AUCC seeks targeted funding increases in next Budget

The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) is making a series of recommendations for increased federal investments in the granting councils, international collaboration and expanding access for Aboriginal Canadians. The recommendations were contained in its pre-Budget submission to Finance minister James Flaherty. Among the recommendations, AUCC is requesting a 4% increase to the granting councils in each of the next two years ($84 million in FY11-12 and $171 million in FY12-13), a proportionately larger increase for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and greater support for the Canada Graduate Scholarships program ($26 million in FY11-12 and $53 million in FY12-13). Internationally, it is requesting $22 million annually for the next two years to mount a major international marketing campaign, $28.7 million over two years for pilot projects between Canada and India, and $30 million over two years for collaborative research partnerships between Canadian universities, emerging economies and developed countries. For greater Aboriginal access to post-secondary education, AUCC is seeking $20 million over two years for Aboriginal student scholarships and $25 million over two years for pilot access and retention programs....