Accountability /

Additionally, in an effort to improve the impartiality of program quality assurance, the Government of Ontario should task the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO), to take on the quality assurance mechanisms of the current Ontario Universities Council of Quality Assurance. [...] Mirroring the creation of the Patient Ombudsman, students believe that the Government of Ontario should legislate the creation of a Student Ombudsman. [...] In 2014, the Government of Ontario extended the role of the Ontario Ombudsman to include municipalities, school boards, and publicly funded universities.1 Additionally, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development is currently working with Ontario’s universities to develop the second iteration of the SMAs, which will identify each institution’s strengths and strategic priorities for t [...] This system of account is a tool to improve the overall excellence of universities by capturing: • The main goals of the institution • The strategic objectives in teaching, research and community service • The resource allocation plan to meet these goals and objectives • The strengths and weaknesses of the institution • The opportunities and threats of the institutional environment • The common sy [...] Therefore, the publication of an annual accountability report under the New Zealand PAI model would create a feedback mechanism for the public and government to judge the expenditure of public funds, while creating a new communication channel for universities to factually state the rationale for decisions, and conditions of their affairs with the province.