A new report is backing the idea of a university in the West Shore, saying it could boost the number of high school students who pursue post-secondary education.
Only 17 per cent of West Shore high school grads transition to university, almost half the provincial average of 34.1 per cent. That’s according to a report from Royal Roads University, which was tasked by the province to study the possibility of establishing a university campus in the West Shore.
“Our kids in the West Shore are not getting the same opportunity for education as other areas of the province,” said Langford Mayor Stew Young, who has long been fighting for a university in his municipality. Young said he’s tired of the stereotype that Langford is a blue-collar community and believes young people should have the same opportunity to pursue tech jobs and other post-secondary vocations.
A likely barrier is transportation, the report found, with students from the West Shore commuting between one and four hours a day to get to the University of Victoria or Camosun College. Lack of access is even more challenging for First Nations youth, who are located in more remote communities.
“Students from Sooke say it’s taking them two hours each way because of traffic in the morning,” said Royal Roads University president Philip Steenkamp. Royal Roads University in Colwood does not offer a first- or second-year program for domestic undergraduate students.
While the long commute is inconvenient, it’s a more affordable option for West Shore students who are opting to live at home rather than paying high rents, the report said.
Several studies have shown that the closer students are to a university or college, the more likely they are to attend post-secondary institutions, Steenkamp said.
The demographics of the West Shore make it ideal for a new university, Young said. It’s one of the fastest-growing regions in Canada, according to Statistics Canada, with a population increase of 49 per cent between 2001 and 2016, and projected growth of 27 per cent over the next decade. It also has a larger share of people under age 15 — 17.1 per cent versus the provincial average of 14.9 per cent.
B.C.’s Labour Market Outlook for 2018 forecast 903,000 job openings in the next decade due to a mixture of retirement and economic growth. About 77 per cent of those jobs will require some level of post-secondary education.
“The whole world of work is changing — many jobs that exist today aren’t going to exist in the future,” Steenkamp said. “We need to give people the skills they need to thrive in the new economy. I think a new campus on the West Shore will help shape that new economy.”
Now that the feasibility study is complete, Royal Roads University is developing a full business case for a university in the West Shore, funded by $1.5 million from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The business case will look at curriculum design, a possible location and surrounding infrastructure, and will incorporate feedback from post-secondary institutions, School District 62, First Nations and local governments.
The new university could be a collaboration between Royal Roads, UVic and Camosun, Steenkamp said.
“The most exciting thing about this, if we go ahead with this, we’re going to be able to put in place an undergraduate program that is completely different from most,” he said.
Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark was not available for an interview, but said in a statement she will review the business case once it’s completed to decide on next steps.
“Our government is committed to providing affordable and accessible post-secondary education and training needed for good-paying jobs, as it’s a game changer with the power to transform lives,” Mark said.
