Press release

September 29, 1999 Université de Montréal: an institution of international reputation

To serve the Quebec society in a context of globalization, Université de Montréal must reach an internationally recognized status. For this to happen, Université de Montréal needs $180 million dollars more on an annual basis. These are the messages delivered in the Université de Montréal white paper sent to the Education Minister, François Legault, entitled "Pour un complexe universitaire de calibre mondial." In June, the Minister asked each university to submit by mid-September a document outlining their underfunding, how it compares with other Canadian and American universities of equal reputation and to justify how additional funding would enhance their capacity of meeting needs of the Quebec society. The Minister also requested that rectors make a proposal to revise the actual financing mechanism. "No matter how you look at it, our Quebec universities lack between $ 600 and $ 800 million dollars per year in order to be on the same level as other Canadian universities," says Robert Lacroix, Rector of the Université de Montréal. North American Situation Underfunding of this magnitude is the result of the combined effect of budget cuts, which were more extensive in Quebec than in any other region in Canada, and the freeze on tuition fees, which increased everywhere else in Canada. "It is therefore not surprising to arrive at figures like these, observes Mr. Lacroix, but above all, we must realize that if we do not act quickly, the situation may well become irreversible." In its answer to the Minister, the report first analyzed the situation in North America where there is a clear tendency toward differentiation among universities. "This is a necessary process" explains the Rector, "because Université de Montréal trains people who will be the workforce for companies exporting to the United States or competing with North American or international counterparts. The same applies to research and innovation where our graduates will compete on North American and world grounds." "Let us first examine the Canadian situation. We are witnessing a concentration of resources in a small number of large research universities, at least in major training and research sectors. The University of Toronto emerges as the university of international caliber. In Quebec, the only university with a potential to reach such level, given its structure, characteristics and past achievements, is Université de Montréal along with its two affiliated schools, École des Hautes Études Commerciales and École Polytechnique. We are, indeed, the second largest Canadian university, and the only francophone university east of Ontario able to compete with the large public American research universities." Prerequisites Before being on the short list of international universities which play a key role in the process of learning and knowledge development, in preserving and enriching the arts, literature and world culture, as well as in social, cultural and technological innovations, the Université de Montréal, states the paper, must, among other things: avoid that the more expensive - but essential for Quebec - professional sectors with an undergraduate enrolment of 55 %, drain resources which should be invested elsewhere; renew programs in literature, humanities and social sciences; build "alliances and consortiums with corporations, organizations and various community groups to open the workplace to our graduates"; invest in laboratories, libraries, infrastructures and computer resources; . stop the "brain drain" and hire new professors; activate the Technopole, a joint project with École Polytechnique, leading to research and development investments of $ 250 million dollars over a five year period. Comparing the level of expenses per student at Université de Montréal, and its affiliated schools, with that of University of Toronto revealed, the authors of the paper concluded, that Université de Montréal and its schools will need an input of $ 243 million dollars to compare favourably with University of Toronto. "It is what is needed for our students in order for them to benefit from the same quality of services as those at the University of Toronto, and for our researchers to enjoy a similar research environment", says Mr. Lacroix. Financing Mechanism The Université also suggests that the government financing mechanism be revised: to increase from 15 % to 50 % funding of indirect costs in research to take fully into account the expenses per sector and level of study, and to integrate a performance index into the calculations of university financing. The refinancing plan submitted by the Université de Montréal to the Government carries the ambitions of the Quebec society at a time when universities must be repositioned and their respective roles differentiated. -30-

Information Marie-Claude Chalvignac Université de Montréal Direction des communications Tel.: (514) 343-7704 Pager: (514) 423-0651