Higher Education in Federal Systems - A Sharing of Experiences

Abstract

On May 8, 1991, a colloquium was held in Kingston, Ontario, which focussed upon a topical but somewhat unusual subject the management of higher education in federated political systems. At the initiative of Gilles Jasmin of the Department of the Secretary of State, and with the encouragement and support of his department and of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), an organizing committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Ronald Watts, Director of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queens University, prepared a conference agenda over a two year period. Additional sponsorship was also provided by Queens University and Ecole nationale d'administration publique of the Universite du Quebec. Several factors precipitated the planning of the colloquium. Although not explicit in the original discussion, the critical state of Canadian federalism loomed with increasing intensity throughout the pre-conference period. Canada is but one of the many countries in which the constitution delineates the responsibilities of the central (or federal) government, and the federated governments (landers, cantons, states, provinces, etc.). As described by Pierre Cazalis of the Universite du Quebec, each federated system has developed a unique structure for the management, organization, planning and financing of education, specifically at the post-high school level. In most constitutions, education and culture are placed under the jurisdiction of the federated states. As Cazalis notes in his introductory theme for the colloquium...