Indigenous student education
Our position
Indigenous peoples face significant barriers to postsecondary education. As a result, far fewer First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Canada have a university degree than non-Indigenous Canadians. Education is vital to the reconciliation process and universities are committed to helping Indigenous students achieve their potential through higher education.
Universities help advance reconciliation by revitalizing Indigenous languages, ensuring Indigenous representation in governance and leadership structures, and bringing Indigenous knowledge and culture to campus. Still much more remains to be done. Universities Canada is working with partners in government to encourage more support for Indigenous students to access and succeed at higher education.
By the numbers
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71%increasing Indigenous leadership
Well over two-thirds of Canada’s universities are working to include Indigenous representation within their governance or leadership structures.
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65%Indigenizing research
Two-thirds of universities are incorporating Indigenous knowledge, methods and protocols into research and teaching policies, programs and practices.
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78%offer intercultural engagement
Seventy-eight percent of universities promote intercultural engagement through cultural activities, events, talking circles and cultural competency or reconciliation training.
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69%do community outreach
More than two-thirds of Canadian universities reach out to prospective Indigenous students to inform them of available services, programs and supports.
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70%partnering with Indigenous communities
Just over 70% of universities have a partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations to foster dialogue and reconciliation.
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55%increase in Indigenous academic programs
Since 2013 there has been a 55% increase in the number of academic programs that include an Indigenous focus or are designed for Indigenous students.
Real change and renewal require dialogue between communities. And when that dialogue is active and engaged, everyone benefits.
