College of Ontario

The Record
December 20, 2007
Editorial

The educational world today is complex with different institutions having different assets and interests. The world is very different from that which existed when universities were inward looking, operated on their own agenda and enjoyed life behind their ivory towers.

Now, universities are very much a part of the society at large. The question universities need to ask is not whether they alone can meet all the demands of their students but how they can best serve those students, who are, in a way, the universities' clients.

This question has arisen in the minds of Conestoga College president John Tibbits and the presidents of several other community colleges and universities in this part of Ontario. They gathered yesterday for a meeting at the Doon campus of Conestoga College.

Speaking about this meeting, Tibbits said that, "It seems clear now . . . that the employers are looking for a higher level of general education and a higher level of job-specific training."

Tibbits is right. Theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge that help in the workforce are not mutually exclusive. The same person may benefit from having both. In fact, the more sophisticated the world's economy becomes, the greater the need for people who have a broad education.

Up to now, however, Ontario's institutions of higher learning have not had a smooth way of enabling students to gain both types of knowledge.

Yesterday's meeting might lead to positive changes.

Tibbits gave a good example of how the colleges and universities can work together. He pointed out that Conestoga has a culinary program and that the University of Guelph has a hospitality and tourism program. He suggested that students would benefit if they had the opportunity to obtain a degree at Guelph then take practical training at Conestoga. That's a good suggestion.

Of course, there are differences between the universities and the colleges, and not every request to blend programs would work. But the principle that the meeting was exploring is sound. The two levels of higher learning should work more closely. That would be both good theory and good practice.