Thread by @mitchellpawluk

Hi y’all! I’ll be live tweeting the Alberta 2030 town hall happening tonight with advanced education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides. Follow along for updates! #abpse #abpoli

Opening up the meeting, Nicolaides begins the meeting by explains the purpose and context of the Alberta 2030 panel

In his opening remarks, Nicolaides mentions how the MacKinnon Report found that Alberta’s post-secondary system “lacks an overall direction.” As a result, the Report recommended Alberta consult with stakeholders to set a new direction for advanced education

Nicolaides continues his presentation by discussing the global trends facing advanced education. Amongst these trends includes a shift to online learning, an increased influence of automation, and how public funding “remains under pressure”

Nicolaides is now presenting the vision and goals for Alberta 2030. These goals include “access and student experience, skills for jobs, innovation and commercialisation, and internationalization.” Financial sustainability and governance are also mentioned as goals

After his presentation, the floor is now open to questions from students!

First up is a question about how Alberta 2030 is reflecting the need for mental health supports. Nicolaides says mental health of students is being considered under the first goal of Alberta 2030

Next up is a question from Shayla Breen about what Alberta 2030 is doing to address sexual violence on campus. In her question she mentions the gov doesn’t collect stats on sexual violence on campus

Nicolaides responds she is right and he hopes Alberta 2030 can work on this item

Another question asks how Alberta 2030, given its focus on being responsive to the job market, will still be innovative

Nicolaides responds by saying he doesn’t believe vocational education and innovation exist in opposition to each other

Beth Blanchette asks if Alberta 2030 has considered ways to remove barriers to Indigenous enrolment in #abpse

Nicolaides says he can’t recall specifics but that Alberta 2030 has considered initiatives to address barrier by looking at ideas implemented in other jurisdictions

Q from Brandon Simons asks what the next steps are for the Alberta 2030 review, given they are behind their

Nicolaides responds they’ll be doing consultations until February and then take time for the government to reflect on feedback before releasing details in March/April

In a statement from Harnoor Kochar, she says she’s concerned about implementation of performance-based funding and the potential deregulation of tuition. She asks if Nicolaides will commit to not deregulating tuition

“I’ll put the question back to you,” Nicolaides says, before saying he wants to hear which tuition model she prefers.

He eventually clarifies that he does not like the complete deregulation of tuition in Alberta but wants to hear feedback #abpse

Frank Finley asks why the government has continued to cut post-secondary funding in the midst of a pandemic instead of investing in them

Nicolaides disagrees with Finley, saying the government has provided funding for more internship opportunities which create student jobs

@SAMRUBuzz president Spirit River Striped Wolf, asks how numerous issues brought up, such as sexual violence and mental health, are being addressed.

Nicolaides says many of these issues are difficult to measure but that he wants to address them in the panel

. @RowanLey opens his question by discussing how Alberta’s student aid program is comparably less to other provinces. He asks if Alberta 2030 will result in more aid

“I would toss it back to you,” Nicolaides says, before saying he wants to hear more student perspectives

Another students opens with passionate remarks about tuition, saying post-secondaries blame governments for tuition increases, while the minister asserts administration can set their own tuition. She says students ultimately pay the price

“I’m a student and I feel stuck.”