CREDIT TRANSFER

High tuition fees in Ontario not only affect the overall accessibility of post-secondary education in the province, but they severely limit students’ choice in programs and location. Students have fewer opportunities to earn more than one post-secondary designation, change their degree or diploma path, or change schools while maintaining their area of study, due to the high cost of education and the accumulation of debt.

Students have long called for the creation of a government-coordinated, province-wide system of credit transfer. This has become especially important given the changing economy, the rising demand for higher education qualifications and the opportunities provided for students when their mobility in the province is improved. A province-wide credit transfer and evaluation system would result in cost-savings for both students and the government, while improving access and flexibility to the system for many students who live outside of college and university catchment areas.

For a variety of reasons, many students who start a post-secondary diploma or degree at one institution may choose to finish it at another. A student may discover new academic and professional interests, or be studying at an institution where their program is cut. Some students discover programs at other institutions where they can specialize in a particular subject area or study under a faculty member who is a leader in the field. Other students may have family or personal circumstances that require them to move. Changing labour market demands and new programs offered by colleges and universities have also led to an increase in the number of students who choose to supplement a diploma or degree with a second designation.

For more than a decade, the Federation has been involved in shaping the province’s approach to credit transfer. In January 2011, after two years of work through a provincial steering committee, the government released its plan to improve credit transferability in Ontario. Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy announced that the government will provide $73.7 million over five years to support the development of the new system.