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Government – A Key External Factor

Learn how to establish proactive and strategic relationships with the government for better funding and policy support in the education sector. This article discusses the importance of organizing and coordinating advocacy efforts, understanding key factors influencing government strategy, and aligning priorities with government priorities.

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Government – A Key External Factor

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  1. Government – A Key External Factor What To Do About It. • Jim Reed, BCCP President • Feb. 2, 2004

  2. Two Options • Reactive and Tactical • Proactive and Strategic

  3. Reactive & Tactical • Characterized by: • Short notice to changes in funding, policy or program offerings • No awareness or information within the college system on emerging government positions • Lack of coordination between institutions, departments, programs • Individual, ad hoc response to shifts in policy

  4. Proactive & Strategic • Characterized by: • A well informed public, government and key stakeholders of system’s priorities • System and institutions informed on emerging government policy • Vision and strategies are clear, focused, understood and supported • Institution or system seen as a leader

  5. Get Organized • Organize & coordinate advocacy • BC’s colleges have attempted to organize itself collectively from AECBC to COP – limited success • Applies to the institution the same way as the college system • Agreed set of strategic priorities, supported and advocated by all

  6. Establishing A Context • The platform or mandate of government • Determine the key factors influencing government strategy • The strategic direction of government • e.g. BC Liberals 2000 New Era Document • The priorities of Ministry responsible

  7. BCCP: Current Organization • The BCCP formed in Summer 2002 • A consortium of the presidents of 11 colleges and Aboriginal Institutes • To advance college system’s strategy on policy and funding “United we have influence – divided we are marginal”

  8. Developing BCCP Strategic Direction • Determine drivers of government policy: Four key documents (BC) • New Era • Core Review • Government Fiscal Framework • AVED Service Plan

  9. Developing BCCP Strategic Direction • Established a Strategic Government Relations Plan • Obtained consensus on vital few things (core strategies) • Getting everybody to work from the same page • Targeted advocacy in priority areas (3 to 4 strategies or themes)

  10. Developing BCCP Strategic Direction • What it contains • Aligning BCCP priorities with government’s priorities • Creating awareness and productive government relations • External relations and strategic alliances • Information and communications • Establishing structure and processes for government relations

  11. 2003/2004 BCCP Priorities • System capacity and sustainability • Mandate & role • Increasing access for students to post secondary education • Trades training

  12. BCCP Experience 2003/2004 • Results • Consortium focused on strategic priorities • Targeted budget reduction (2.5% cut) for 2003/04 eliminated • Year-end 2003/04 funds disbursed to member institutions • Coordinated system response to policy, funding and program issues

  13. Factors Effecting Government & Colleges 2004/05 • Significant skills shortage facing BC • Approximately 300K job openings to 2011 – educated by public post secondary education • Increasing demand for access to post secondary education • 18-29 cohort • Older than 29 cohort

  14. Factors Effecting Government & Colleges 2004/05 • 2010 Olympics • Need for educated or skilled workforce • Need for services • Balanced budget for 2004/05 • Targeted 3% reduction in operating budget • Heartlands Strategy

  15. BCCP Response to 2004/05 • Three year budget submission to Government 2004/05 to 2006/07 • 2004/05 budget / strategic priorities • Capacity • Scope & quality of opportunities to learn • Human Resource development for BC

  16. Summary of BCCP Request • We challenge government to invest more in colleges • More funding per year to colleges to respond to growth in 18 to 29 & >29 cohort (1200 FTE/year) plus closure of demand/supply gap • Expand capital for new facilities and to adapt existing facilities

  17. Summary of BCCP Request • New funding targeted at learning and innovation – supporting business/industry/educational partnerships • Adjustment to funding mechanisms that recognize production costs in regions with low population (rural) are necessarily greater than high population density regions

  18. Summary of BCCP Request • Improve student financial assistance programs • Protect efficiency of transfer system through increase in upper division capacity at universities preferentially over increases in lower division • Target growth in 1st & 2nd year through colleges

  19. Lessons Learned • The collective has more influence • A proactive & strategic approach works • Establish & maintain relationships with key stakeholders • It’s not a science – but it is an art!

  20. Jim Reed, BCCP Presidentjimreed@synachor.com Thank you!

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