Ontario universities have the lowest per-student funding the country. The effects of this can be felt across the sector. It doesn’t have to be this way.Publicly funded universities are vital to the economic, social, and political wellbeing of our province. Why is it important to keep our universities public? How do we ensure they continue […]
June 12-14, 2019
The 2019 Worldviews on Media and Higher Education Conference brought together hundreds of academics, students, higher education leaders, communications professionals, and journalists from around the globe to explore the conference’s theme: Democracy at risk? Reflecting on the future of higher education and media in a “post-truth” world.
A series of keynote talks, panel discussions, interviews, and interactive exhibits examined democracy and the changing power relations of higher education and the media in the global north and south – specifically the concept of expertise in a “post-truth” world and the types of voices amplified by emerging technologies.
Throughout the conference, participants discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the democratization of higher education and the media, engaged in a lively exchange of ideas both in and outside of sessions, and met new colleagues with whom that could explore innovative possibilities for future partnerships.
March 19, 2019
At the 2019 Worldviews Lecture, Ojibway author and journalist Tanya Talaga addressed the need for better education for Indigenous students in Canada and how higher education can be a part of the solution. After her lecture, Talaga joined a panel discussion about the responsibilities higher education and the media have regarding truth and reconciliation.
April 5, 2018
Professor Sigal Ben-Porath Professor of education, philosophy, and political science at the University of Pennsylvania. At this year’s Worldviews Lecture, Professor Sigal Ben-Porath will address the increasingly heightened debate around free speech on campus. Her lecture will be followed by a panel discussion to further explore issues of free speech and the challenges posed to […]
May 11-12, 2017
The OCUFA Policy Exchange 2017 helped set the groundwork for OCUFA’s policy platform in the lead-up to the 2018 Ontario provincial election. During the interactive conference, participants identified the policy issues and priorities most important to the 17,000 university faculty and academic librarians that OCUFA represents. Attendees worked together to draft a set of policy […]
April 5, 2017
Dr. Peter Scott Professor of Higher Education Studies at the UCL Institute of Education, London, U.K Previously Vice-Chancellor of Kingston University, London; Editor of The Times Higher Education Supplement, and editorial writer for The Times of London. On April 5, Professor Sir Peter Scott, a Professor of Higher Education Studies at the UCL Institute of […]
April 13, 2016
Professor Rajani Naidoo Chair in Higher Education Management and Director International Centre for Higher Education Management, University of Bath, U.K. Universities everywhere have a competition fetish. There is a modern-day magical belief that competition will provide the solutions to all of the unsolved problems of higher education, protect against risk, and drive up quality. Drawing on […]
February 11-12, 2016
Held in Toronto from February 11-12, 2016, the conference examined the realities and impact of precarious academic work on our universities and considered solutions now and for the future. Speakers included researchers, activists, and policymakers from Canada, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Key themes included: Current realities of precarious academic work and the […]
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Simon Marginson, Professor of International Education at the Institute of Education, University of London “Universities, the plutocracy and the 99%: Is high participation in higher education the problem or the solution, in societies that are becoming more unequal?”
October 24, 2014
OCUFA marks its 50th anniversary with a conference that looks at the history of OCUFA and considers the challenges facing faculty associations in shifting social, economic, and academic environments. The conference will also consider ideas for moving forward and ensuring that faculty associations remain a strong voice for the interests of faculty and the integrity of higher education
February 27 - 28, 2014
The Future U conference will provide an opportunity to contemplate the universities that we would like to see in the future and chart a path to achieving that vision. The key themes include: Current trends and the possibility of alternatives in the future of higher education. Re-imagining research, teaching, community service, and governance. The real […]
June 19-21, 2013
About Worldviews
How do media cover higher education issues – locally and around the globe? How does coverage shape public perceptions? Does the academy look in media’s mirror to see itself? Can the academy help the press translate complex issues into accessible stories?
Let’s talk about it.
Given the crucial role of higher education and its explosive growth in some parts of the world, the stakes are high for the academy and ultimately the societies we serve.
In both higher education and media, much is in flux and many global trends are at play.
Let’s assemble thinkers – academics, editors, students, journalists, communications professionals and others – to chart where we are and forge new paths in a fast-changing landscape.
Worldviews is a very lively forum to advance mutual understanding of the relationships, challenges, and potential of the academy and media.
Governments in Canada and elsewhere have embraced “austerity” as a necessary public policy to eliminate budgetary deficits and ensure future prosperity. How has this “austerity agenda” affected faculty, students, administrators and institutions in Ontario, in Canada, and globally? Is “austerity” inevitable, or are there alternatives? And what might universities do now, and in the future, […]
January 20-21, 2012
AGENDA Location What do we mean when we talk about student success? Are students, faculty, administrators and government talking about the same thing? How can we ensure that our students are getting the education they need to achieve their goals, succeed in the workforce, and be the citizens and leaders of tomorrow? The Ontario Confederation of University […]
January 21-22, 2011
OCUFA held a 1 ½ day conference on Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22, 2011 at the Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto, Ontario.
January 22-23, 2010
OCUFA held a 1 ½ day conference on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto, Ontario. Titled “Financing Higher Education in the Current Economic Climate” the conference brought together speakers from universities, research institutes, government and the private sector in Canada and the United States. The conference was designed to reflect on the current recession’s impact on universities, examine trends in higher education financing, and consider implications for the future.
January 8, 2009
In order to explore the issues regarding accountability in higher education, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) held a conference on January 8, 2009. Titled “Accounting or Accountability in Higher Education”, it brought together noted experts on accountability from around the world to assess how the drive towards accountability could best be managed […]
January 19, 2007
In January 2007, OCUFA hosted a conference entitled “Restructuring the Academy: Current Realities and Preferred Directions” as part of its biennial conference series. The conference was designed to reflect on the changing nature of academic work, the trends that underpin those changes, and the implications for faculty, students, and higher education in general. It brought […]
January 21, 2005
Topics included: Public concerns about possible directions for higher education in Ontario Coordination, collaboration and governance of the province’s higher education system Higher Education Reform in the UK Funding for the future: public and private responsibilities and benefits Affordability Ensuring quality
