We all know about "Peak Oil." What about "Peak Student?"
For a few years now, it has been predicted that the number of young people in traditional university demographics will peak. This will result in either declining enrolment numbers or universities reaching out to non-tradition groups to maintain their enrolments.
Application numbers for university spaces in Ontario are up this year, so they haven’t hit the peak yet.
However, this does not mean individual institutions are not facing enrolment pressures. Trent is expecting an enrolment drop next year. USaskatchewan is increasing its enrolment and retention budget to try and head off a drop caused by smaller high school graduating classes in the province. That’s just from the news I picked up this weekend.