Ontario allocates $750 million to support university STEM programs, adding 20,000 new degree spots annually!
The Ontario government announced it will invest CAD 750 million to strengthen the construction of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs in colleges and universities across the province.
Higher Education Minister Nolan Quinn stated that this funding will be used to support an additional 20,500 STEM degree spots each year.
Quinn pointed out that this investment will help cultivate talent and enhance Ontario's economic resilience, especially against the backdrop of US President Trump escalating trade wars and economic pressure.
The provincial government said that the funds for STEM programs will be officially disbursed after institutions sign operating funding agreements for 2025 to 2030.
In recent years, Ontario's higher education institutions have been under long-term financial strain. On one hand, Premier Ford's Progressive Conservative government froze local student tuition fees, reducing revenue; on the other hand, the federal government imposed restrictions on international student visas, causing schools to lose a significant amount of income from international students' tuition fees.
Last year, the provincial government allocated CAD 1.3 billion to stabilize the higher education system, but institutions indicated that this was only about half of the required amount.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830142796572672/
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