Opinion: What would New Brunswick look like without its universities?

As the academic year begins in New Brunswick, officials are highlighting the role of the province’s public universities in driving economic and social development. According to Ian Sutherland, President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University, these institutions serve as essential hubs for human capacity, research, and community engagement.

Data from DataNB indicates that approximately 70 percent of graduates from New Brunswick’s public universities remain in the province one year after graduation, with 60 percent still residing there after three years. For students who were already residents of New Brunswick prior to enrollment, the three-year retention rate is 87 percent. Proponents argue that this retention is critical for addressing labor shortages, such as the projected need for more than 11,000 teachers over the next decade.

Collectively, the University of New Brunswick, Université de Moncton, St. Thomas University, and Mount Allison University report an annual economic impact exceeding $2 billion. This figure accounts for operating expenditures, student and visitor spending, and the support of thousands of jobs. Furthermore, university graduates in Canada are estimated to contribute more than $200,000 in additional tax revenue over the course of their careers.

The institutions are also credited with fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Examples cited include the Fredericton-based manufacturing firm SmartSkin, co-founded by a UNB student, and the Moncton-based marketing agency Ampersand Social Co., co-founded by a Mount Allison graduate. In the research sector, faculty members are engaged in projects ranging from tick and Lyme disease testing at Mount Allison to artificial intelligence development at Université de Moncton.

Scott McCain, commenting on the importance of these institutions, stated that the success of the province is dependent on the success of its public universities. Beyond economic metrics, the universities are noted for their contributions to cultural preservation, such as the Université de Moncton’s role in Acadian culture, and the provision of public services, including sports facilities and arts programming.

Historically, New Brunswick universities have been associated with notable figures, including Grace Annie Lockhart, the first woman in the British Empire to earn a university degree; the Hon. Graydon Nicholas, the first Indigenous Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick; and Major Wally Peters, Canada’s first Black fighter jet pilot.

Article and image source: tj.news