“One of the key pillars of the government’s jobs and economic plan, Look West, is ensuring British Columbia has the skilled workforce required to meet future challenges,” said Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “A strong and resilient public post-secondary system is fundamental to building that workforce and driving B.C.’s economic growth. Public post-secondary institutions must be prepared to respond to these evolving needs.”
Public post-secondary institutions in B.C. are facing significant financial pressures, largely due to factors such as unilateral federal reductions to study permits for international students, global inflation and declining domestic enrolment. As a result, many post-secondary institutions are in a critical position, with widening gaps between revenues and expenses. To address this, the ministry is launching a review with a holistic approach to sector-wide sustainability to establish a clear path forward to stabilize institutions in the short term and to build a foundation for long-term financial sustainability and operational resilience.
The independent review is being led by Don Avison, KC, former B.C. deputy minister and former board chair of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Avison will deliver a report with recommendations by March 15, 2026, that will guide government’s work to keep the system accessible, affordable, sustainable and aligned with provincial economic priorities.
“The review presents an opportunity to look at both near- and longer-term sustainability issues in post-secondary education and training. I welcome the opportunity to consider how best to address the challenges that lie ahead,” said Avison. “I look forward to hearing the perspectives of students, faculty, staff, institutional leaders, and First Nations and other Indigenous partners.”
This review will ensure B.C.’s public post-secondary system continues to deliver high-quality, relevant programs that are responsive to the needs of people in the province and align with labour market needs, while balancing the need to maintain regional access and recognize the economic and social contributions institutions make to their local areas.
In 2021 and 2022, the ministry worked closely with the post-secondary sector to gather input about how the Province funds operations at B.C.’s public institutions. Because of the dramatically changed landscape, the information collected three years ago no longer addresses the environment that post-secondary institutions face.
This review takes a broad, holistic approach to sector-wide sustainability and will cover the following areas:
- Governance and operations: Examine the structure of B.C.’s public post-secondary system to reduce duplication, streamline service delivery and improve overall efficiency.
- Program delivery: Identify ways to deliver programs more effectively within existing budgets, ensuring that institutions are effectively preparing graduates with relevant skills and training.
- Financial sustainability: Explore broad opportunities to address both short-term and long-term financial challenges.
Learn More:
For the review’s terms of reference, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/ReviewofSectorSustainability_TermsofReference.pdf