Canadian Post-Secondary Education (1)
Vancouver, BC - An Ipsos Reid online poll of 1,493 adult Canadians reveals that Canadians hold generally favourable views of the quality of education provided by the country's universities, colleges, and institutes. However, there's no real consensus on the progress these institutions have made in sustaining the quality of education they offer students. Indeed, Canadians are almost as likely to see an improvement in quality, as a decline, or no change over the past 10 years.
Solid Majority Rate the Quality of Post-Secondary Education in Canada as "Excellent/Good"
Overall, 71% of the Canadian population describes the overall quality of post-secondary education at Canada's universities, colleges and institutes as "excellent" (15%) or "good" (56%). Another 18% give them a "fair" rating. Very few - just 3% - feel the quality of education offered at Canada's post-secondary institutions is "poor/very poor".
Across Canada, this generally favourable portrait is repeated in all regions, and among all population subgroups. However, there are some important regional and demographic differences to note. Those more likely to give a positive "excellent/good" rating include those in the following population subgroups - Atlantic (79%), Western (76%), and Ontario (71%) residents vs. 65% in Quebec; already have undergraduate or graduate degree (81%) vs. 63% with high school or less.
No Consensus on Change in Quality of Education over past Decade
The Canadian population holds quite mixed feelings on whether or not Canada's postsecondary institutions have made progress in the quality of education they offer students. While 35% feel the quality has improved over the past 10 years, a quarter of those surveyed (25%) believe things have gotten worse. Another 27% see no change at all. The rest simply don't know.
This same lack of consensus exists across all regions and among the various demographic subgroups. However, Canadians with a post-graduate degree (Ph.D., M.A.) are more likely than those with much less formal education (High School or less) to feel the quality of education at universities, colleges, and institutes in Canada has gotten worse over the past 10 years (34% worsened vs. 23%, respectively).
"These findings show Canadians believe the country's post-secondary institutions are delivering a solid education to their students" says Daniel Savas, consultant to Ipsos Reid on this survey. "However", continues Savas, "the findings also seem to indicate that Canadians have underlying doubts that universities, colleges, and institutes in the country are keeping pace with the demands placed on them for quality education."
These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between October 20th and 28th, 2009. For this survey, a national sample of 1,493 adults from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. A survey with an un-weighted probability sample of this size and a 100% response rate would have an estimated margin of error of +2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what the results would have been had the entire population of adults in Canada been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.
For more information on this news release, please contact:
Daniel Savas
Consultant
Ipsos Reid
(778) 373-5004
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
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