Public Perceptions of the Internationalization of Higher Education

1. The 2011 OCUFA/CFS Study on Post-Secondary EducationJanuary 2011 Public Perceptions of the Internationalization of Higher Education

2. Some Background Data

3. International student enrolment (Ontario 1992-2008)

4. International students as a percentage of total enrolment (Ontario 1992-2008)

5. Percentage Proportion of international students enrolled, based on level of education (2007)

6. General Findings

7. Post-Secondary Education: A Government Priority? • More than 7 in 10 respondents believe that post-secondary education should be viewed as an issue of “high priority” by the Ontario government. Net high priority = 74% Question: “For you personally, should post-secondary education be a very high priority, a high priority, a low priority or a very low priority for the Ontario government?”

8. Quality of Post-Secondary Education: How Has It Changed? • When asked to comment on the quality of post-secondary education in Ontario over the course of the McGuinty administration, respondents were most likely to say that it has “stayed the same” during this period. Question: “Based on what you know, do you think the quality of post-secondary education has improved, declined or stayed the same since Dalton McGuinty’s Liberal government first took power?”

9. Affordability of Post-Secondary Education: Level of Concern • Nearly half of respondents (47%) express a very high level of concern (9/10) toward the affordability of post-secondary education in Ontario. The average concern-rating was 7.72. Average rating = 7.72 Question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is "not at all concerned" and 10 is "very concerned," how concerned are you with the affordability of post-secondary education in Ontario?”

10. In comparison… Unemployment (7.43) Reducing Taxes (7.15) Crime (6.07)

11. Young Ontarians Access to University: Main Reason For Concern • Respondents were most likely to identify the expense of student tuition as the reason they are concerned that young Ontarians may be prevented from attending a publicly-funded university in the province. [IF VERY OR SOMEWHAT CONCERNED] Question: Which of the following four issues best reflect the reason you are concerned about young Ontarians not being able to attend a publicly-funded university in Ontario? [READ AND ROTATE, ONE MENTION ONLY]

12. Public Perceptions of the Internationalization of Higher Education

13. International Students: Perceived Importance • Over half of Ontarians believe it is important for post-secondary institutions in the province to attract more students from abroad. Net important = 54% Question: “For you personally, would you say it is very important, somewhat important, not very or not at all important that Ontario universities reach out to the world and attract more international university students to come and study in the province?”

14. International Programs • A majority of respondents think that Canadian universities should focus on offering programs to Canadian students before investing in developing programs abroad. This belief appears to transcend the perceived benefits associated with the additional revenue generated by these programs. [SPLIT SAMPLE] Question A. As you may know, [in order to increase their revenues], Canadian universities are setting up programs and campuses in other countries. Do you think this new practice is a positive development or do you think Canadian universities should first focus on offering programs to students in Canada? Question B. Canadian universities are setting up programs and campuses in other countries. Do you think this is a positive development or do you think Canadian universities should first focus on…

15. International Professors: Perceived Importance • Over six in ten Ontarians believe it is important to attract internationally trained professors to teach in the province. Net important = 65% Question: “Would you say that it is very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important that Ontario universities attract professors from other countries to come and teach in the province?”

16. High Tuition for International Students: Fair or Unfair? • A majority of Ontarians believe that it is “fair” for international students to pay significantly higher tuition fees to attend a post-secondary institution in the province. Question: “Do you think it is fair or unfair to charge international students at least twice – or even three times – the tuition paid by a Canadian student to attend a university in Ontario?

17. Degree Equivalency • A significantly higher percentage of Ontarians believes that university degrees earned abroad should be considered equivalent to degrees awarded in Canada compared to those who hold the contrary view. Question: “Do you think university degrees from abroad should be recognized as equivalent to university degrees granted in Canada or not?

18. Scholarships for International PhD Students • A majority of respondents oppose the recent initiative to provide international PhD students enrolled in post-secondary programs in Ontario with large scholarships worth as much as $40K per annum. Net oppose= 55% Question: “As you may know, the Ontario government recently announced 75 new scholarships worth as much as $40,000 per year for International students taking PhD courses at Ontario universities. Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose this new initiative?”

19. Notably… Only Liberal supporters favor this measure (with 58% of them in favor and 48% opposed). In contrast, a majority of PC (62%), NDP (62%) and Green Party (52%) supporters oppose this new Ontario government initiative.

20. Summary • More than half of Ontarians believe it is important that Ontario universities reach out to the world and attract more international students to come and study in the province. • However, it is clear that Ontarians need to be reassured that such an expansion should not jeopardize the quality of education for Ontario students. • More than half of Ontarians (56%) oppose the recent Ontario government initiative to create 75 new scholarships aimed at International students taking Ph.Ds at Ontario universities.

21. Summary Other findings from this study reveal that: 65% of Ontarians believe it is important to attract professors from other countries to come and teach in the province but the this support is lukewarm. 64% think it is fair to charge International students at least twice – or even three times – the tuition fees paid by a Canadian student to attend a university in Ontario 42% think university degrees from abroad should be recognized as equivalent to university degrees granted in Canada, while 31% hold the opposite views and 27% are unsure.

22. Summary The level of concern about post-secondary education in general - and its affordability in particular is real - and could be pushed into the mix of electoral issues for 2011. The strategic electoral relevance of the “Internationalization of Post-Secondary Education” needs to be better explained and communicated.

23. Methodology • The results of this study are based on a poll of 1500 Ontarians over the age of 18 conducted between January 5 and 14, 2011.The margin of error for the total sample is +/- 3.0 percentage points, within a 95% confidence interval. • The results have been statistically weighted according to Statistics Canada’s most current Census data for age, gender and region to ensure a representative sample of the province of Ontario. • These are the first of a series of findings to be released over the next six weeks – check the OCUFA and CFS websites for more details…