Canadian Post Secondary Education (2)

Vancouver, BC - An Ipsos Reid online poll of 1,493 adult Canadians reveals that Canadians hold quite strong views on the future importance of having a post-secondary credential if one wants to succeed or get ahead in life. And, a good number of them are considering taking on further studies in the near future.

Eight-in-Ten Canadians Say Post-Secondary Credentials will be More Important for Success in the Next 5-10 Years

Fully 78% of the Canadian population thinks that it will be more important over the next 5 to 10 years to have a post-secondary credential (i.e. degree, diploma, certificate) in order to succeed or get ahead in life. This includes a full 62% who believe it will be "much more important". Comparatively fewer - 15% - say it'll make no difference, and even fewer (7%) feel having credentials will be less important.

The perceived importance of post-secondary credentials for success is shared widely among Canadians in all regions and walks of life. However, stronger views are held among the following population subgroups: Western (83%), Ontario (80%), and Atlantic (83%) residents vs. 73% in Quebec; and older Canadians - 55+ (85%) vs. 72% of 18-34 year olds.

A Third of Canadians See Themselves Enrolling in a Post- Secondary Course or Program in Next 2-3 Years

Canadians express some degree of interest in pursuing further education at the postsecondary level in the coming years. A third - 32% - of those surveyed said they'd definitely (7%), likely (9%), or might (16%) enroll in a course or program in the next 2 to 3 years.

Intentions to undertake further studies do, however, vary both regionally and demographically. Among those most likely to enroll in a course or program include: Atlantic (36%) and Western (34%) Canadians vs. 27% in Quebec; 18-34 years of age (53%) vs. 29% (35-54) and 13% (55+); men (36%) vs. 28% of women; and already hold an undergraduate degree (40%) vs. 26% with high school or less.

Current Economic Conditions Have Some Impact on Intentions to Pursue Further Education

Almost a third - 31% - of all Canadians say the current economic situation is having an impact on whether or not they'll undertake further education. One-in-five (19%) say they're less likely to do so because of the economy, while 12% are more likely to enroll in a course or degree program. Overall, 63% of Canadians say current economic conditions have had "no impact" on whether or not to pursue further studies.

Interestingly, among those who say they're likely to enroll in a course or program in the next 2-3 years, fully 31% are seeing current economic conditions as an opportunity to get further education. And, among those unlikely to pursue further studies, 20% say the economy is dampening their enthusiasm to enroll in a course or a program.

The impact of economic conditions appears to be felt more acutely among Canadians with lower household income. A quarter (24%) of those with under $50K in annual household income are less likely to pursue post-secondary education in the next 2-3 years, compared to 16% in the middle and upper income categories.

"Career Opportunities" and "Credentials" Top the List of Reasons for Wanting to Pursue Further Post-Secondary Studies

Canadians who are likely to pursue post-secondary studies in the next 2 or 3 years are quite career focused in their reasons for doing so. Many see further studies as an opportunity to advance their career (13%), to start a new career (13%), to change careers (7%), or to begin building a future career (7%). A good number also want to enroll in course or program to obtain a credential (14%), or to explore their own personal development or other interests (10%). Many Canadians also want to pursue further studies for practical reasons - learn a specific skill they don't have (11%), to make better money (12%), and to upgrade their job skills (10%).

"Lack of Desire" Tops the List of Reasons for Not Wanting to Enroll in Post-Secondary Course or Program

Among Canadians who are not likely to take on post-secondary studies in the coming 2-3 years the number one reason is simple lack of interest in doing so (35%). A quarter say they can't afford to pursue further studies right now (24%), and one-fifth feels they don't need any other education (20%). Lack of time (14%) also figures into the reasoning for not wanting to take on further studies.

Location, Cost, and Flexibility are Key Factors in Selecting a Post-Secondary Institution

Canadians who are considering enrolling in a post-secondary institution in the next 2-3 years will choose their institution based on some pretty practical considerations - location of the institution (14%), cost of the program/courses (13%), flexibility of program/course schedules (13%), availability of financial aid (8%), and whether or not an institution offers programs/courses that allow students to work while they're studying (7%). Other important factors include - the overall reputation of the institution (10%), having instructors who are excellent teachers (9%), having instructors who are specialists in their field (8%), and the reputation the institution has with employers (5%).

"It's of some significance that such a large proportion of Canadians see the value of a post-secondary credential growing in the coming decade." states Daniel Savas, consultant to Ipsos Reid on this survey. "For institutions" continues Savas, "the challenge of the future is increasingly going to be to find ways to translate this perceived value placed on education into meaningful outcomes that students understand, such as career opportunities, skills learning, and personal development. And, importantly, paying attention to the practical concerns students have about integrating education into their lives."

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
[email protected]

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