AET FACTS AND FIGURES
Background and Methodology Information
Investment in Research and Innovation
Research Revenue Attracted by Alberta Universities
Applied Research Revenue Attracted by Alberta Technical Institutes and Colleges
Graduate Students
International Visa Graduate Students
Government of Alberta Expenditures on Scientific Activities
Alberta Business Expenditures on Research and Development
TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION
Canadian Venture Capital Invested in Alberta
Active Knowledge-Intensive (High-Tech) Companies in Alberta
Albertans Employed in Knowledge-Intensive (High-Tech) Companies
Affordability of the learning System
Average Undergraduate Tuition Fees for Full-Time Canadian Learners
Average Education-Related Debt Reported by 2007-08 Graduates at Time of Graduation
Full-Time Students Receiving Financial Assistance
Government of Alberta Scholarship Recipients
AET Scholarship Dollars per Full-Time Student
Ratio of Total Debt at Graduation to Income Two Years After Graduation
Graduates Who Agree their Program was Worth the Financial Cost
ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION IN LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Total Learners in Publicly Funded Post-Secondary Programs
Aboriginal Learners in Publicly Funded Post-Secondary Programs
Apprenticeship Registrations
Aboriginal Learners Participating in Apprenticeship
International Visa Learners Studying in Alberta
High School to Post-Secondary Transition Rate of Learners within 10 Years of Entering Grade 10
Percentage of Albertans Aged 18-34 Participating in Post-Secondary Education
Percentage of Transfers where Post-Secondary Graduates with Prior Learning Received the Transfer Credit they Expected
Learner Mobility Rate between Public Post-Secondary Institutions in Alberta
Public Satisfaction that Albertans can Access Education or Training
Adult English as a Second Language Program Registrants
Adult Literacy Programs
Family Literacy Programs
QUALITY AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
Parchments Awarded by Publicly Funded Post-Secondary Institutions in Alberta
Percentage of Learners who Completed their Post-Secondary Programs
Percentage of First Period Apprenticeship Completers who were Certified in their Trade
Graduates’ Satisfaction with the Overall Quality of their Educational Experience
Apprenticeship Graduates’ Satisfaction with: On-the-Job Training, Technical Training
Employment Rate of Albertans Aged 25-34 by Highest Level of Education
Median Annual Salary of 2007-08 Graduates Surveyed Two Years after Graduation
DATABASES
Financial Information Reporting System (FIRS)
Learner Enrolment Reporting System (LERS)
Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupation Management System (ATOMS)
Students Finance System (SFS)
SURVEYS
Labour Force Survey
Graduate Outcomes Survey
Survey of Apprenticeship Graduates
Public Satisfaction Survey
“DID YOU KNOW” DATA SOURCES
Investment in Research and Innovation
Research Revenue Attracted by Alberta Universities
Research revenue attracted by universities provides an indicator of the value of sponsored research at Alberta universities. The funding sources include the provincial government, industry and non-profit organizations, and the federal government.
Sponsored research revenues are those received outside of the university base operating grants and include both research grants and research contracts. This reflects research capability in Alberta through the success of its research intensive universities in attracting sponsored research funding from several sources.
The official name for “universities” under the Alberta post-secondary system’s six sector model, and the institutions included in the calculation, are as follows:
- Comprehensive Academic and Research Institutions
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
University of Lethbridge
Athabasca University
The data is provided to Advanced Education and Technology by the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge and AthabascaUniversity. The universities submit the data to the ministry of Advanced Education and Technology by using a template and guidelines which outline the information required and specific instructions regarding how the revenue should be reported. This ensures that the data submitted are comparable across the universities. The universities derive the data from audited financial statements and supplementary schedules. Extensive time is required to compile data; therefore the last actual report lags one year behind the reporting cycle.
Applied Research Revenue Attracted by Alberta Technical Institutes and Colleges
Total sponsored applied research revenue attracted by Alberta technical institutes and colleges indicates the growth of the applied research capacity and capability of technical institutes and colleges in the province. Applied research revenues are those received outside of the institutional base operating grants and include both research grants and contracts.
The official names for “technical institutes and colleges” under the Alberta post-secondary system’s six sector model, and the respective institutions included in the calculation, are as follows:
- Baccalaureate and Applied Studies Institutions
Grant MacEwan University
Mount Royal University
- Polytechnical Institutions
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Comprehensive Community Institutions
Bow Valley College
Grande Prairie Regional College
Keyano College
Lakeland College
Lethbridge College
Medicine Hat College
NorQuest College
Northern Lakes College
Olds College
Portage College
Red Deer College
- Specialized Arts and Culture Institutions
Alberta College of Art + Design
The Banff Centre
The data are reported based on standardized sponsored research reporting templates submitted by each institution to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology. The template and guidelines, which outline the information required and specific instructions regarding how the revenue should be reported, ensure that the data submitted are comparable across the institutions. The universities derive the data from audited financial statements and supplementary schedules. Extensive time is required to compile data; therefore the last actual report lags one year behind the reporting cycle.
Graduate Students
Building a highly skilled and qualified workforce means building research and innovation capacity in the province. Graduate students conduct research and do innovative work adding to Alberta’s research capacity.
A graduate student is defined as a person enrolled in a program leading towards a master or doctoral level degree, those enrolled in post-degree certificate and diploma programs containing courses that are equivalent to those offered in masters or doctoral programs, and medical resident students. A learner participating in a graduate level course counts as one student. This does not differentiate between part-time and full-time learners or between Masters, PhD and Post Doctorate students.
Graduate level programs within the following categories were selected and reviewed for fit with the priority areas of life sciences, energy, nanotechnology, and information and communication technologies (ICT) by a ministry working group:
- Biology
- Agriculture
- Computer and Information Science
- Engineering
- Health Research
- Mathematics
- Natural Resources and Conservation
- Physical Sciences
- Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
- Science Technologies/Technicians
Data come from Advanced Education and Technology’s Learner Enrollment Reporting System (LERS) (See Databases for more information on LERS).
International Visa Graduate Students
International graduate student participation is an indicator of the quality of the advanced learning system; and change in enrolment over time is an indicator of the ministry’s success in achieving international recognition and increasing international visa student participation. International graduate students diversify our workforce and aid in diversifying our economy by bringing new ideas and a new perspective.
This presents an unduplicated headcount of international graduate students studying in Alberta. A graduate student is defined as a person enrolled in a program leading towards a master or doctoral level degree. Those enrolled in a post degree certificate or diploma program are not included in the count. An international graduate student is a graduate student studying at a publicly funded institution on a student visa or other visa. This does not differentiate between part-time and full-time students. A student participating in a graduate level program counts as one student.
Data are provided by institutions and stored in the Advanced Education and Technology’s Learner Enrollment Reporting System (See Databases for more information on LERS).
Government of Alberta Expenditures on Scientific Activities
This is an indicator ofthe Government of Alberta’ s (GoA’s) support for scientific activities that contribute to Albertan’s social, economic, and environmental well-being. Scientific activities include both research and experimental development (R&D) and activities closely related to R&D, referred to as related scientific activities (RSA).
Statistics Canada, under contract with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology, collects the R&D and RSA data from GoA departments and related entities on an annual basis using internationally accepted guidelines and definitions. These definitions aredocumented in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’sFrascati manual. Data for five fiscal yearsof scientific activities is reported. The most recent survey results have been captured in the report:Scientific Activities of the Government of Alberta 2008-09 and 2009-10 Preliminary Survey Results, April 2010. For more details visit
Alberta Business Expenditures on Research and Development
This is a measure of the expenditures devoted annually to research and development (R&D) from all business sectors of Alberta’s economy. It provides an indication of the business climate for industrial research, which has the potential to produce innovative ideas, products and processes that can yield significant economic and social benefits for the province.
Alberta Advanced Education and Technology has obtained this publicly available data from the “Domestic spending on research and development (GERD), funding sector, by province
(Alberta),” CANSIM table since 1990.
This annual survey is conducted by Statistics Canada and is aimed at all Canadian industries known to be performing or funding more than $1.5 million in research and development. The survey is mailed to respondents in September each year. National level data contains data for the two most recent years however these are only preliminary estimates (intentions) which have not yet been developed for the provincial/regional level. Consequently, provincial data is reported with a two year time lag.
Additional information on Statistics Canada’s methodology can be found at
TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION
Canadian Venture Capital Invested in Alberta
Venture capital (VC) is an indicator of the province’s capacity to support an innovative and globally competitive economy.
Data on Canadian venture capital is sourced from VCReporterTM, a service provided by Thompson Financial, available at The amount of VC funds invested in Canada and the provinces was collected from VCReporterTM within the following parameters:
- Data are collected for:
Quarters 1, 2, 3 and 4 of year being reported on
New funding and follow-on funding
Life sciences, information and communications, and other technology (energy and environmental)
Early stage deals (seed and start-up) and expansion stage deals
All size deals (i.e. less than $500,000 through greater than $5million)
- Data are not collected for:
Traditional industries (i.e. retail and manufacturing)
Later stage deals (mezzanine, turnaround, etc.)
VCReporterTM is a dynamic database, allowing the data that is stored to be supplemented with additional data. Data from earlier periods can be added at a later date, providing more accurate depictions at the later date.
Active Knowledge-Intensive (High-Tech) Companies in Alberta
The number and proportion of knowledge-intensive companies in Alberta is an indicator of the scope of the knowledge-intensive sector. Knowledge-intensive companies are those that develop products or services from advanced technological research or base their activities on the application of advanced knowledge.
Knowledge-intensive companiesare defined here using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for the sectors of interest. The following NAICS codes comprise the High-Technology Sector:
3254-Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
334-Computer and Electronic Manufacturing
3353-Electrical Equipment Manufacturing
3359-Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
3364-Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
5112-Software Publishers
5152-Pay and Specialty Television
516-Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
517-Telecommunications
5182-Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5191-Other Information Services
5413-Architectural, Engineering and Related Services
5415-Computer Systems Design and Related Services
5416-Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
5417-Scientific Research and Development Services
6215-Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
8112-Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair & Maintenance
Only active companies are used in the analysis. Businesses are assigned an inactive status on the Business Registry when neither a GST or payroll remittance has been made by these businesses for 12 consecutive months (24 months for GST quarterly and annual remitters).
Data on knowledge-intensive companies comes from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Business Patterns. For more information visit
Albertans Employed in Knowledge-Intensive (High-Tech) Companies
The number and percentage of employees in knowledge-based (high-tech) companies is an indicator of Alberta’s research and innovation capability.
Knowledge-intensive (high-tech) companies are defined by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The following NAICS codes comprise the High-Technology Sector:
3254-Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
334-Computer and Electronic Manufacturing
3353-Electrical Equipment Manufacturing
3359-Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
3364-Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
5112-Software Publishers
5152-Pay and Specialty Television
516-Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
517-Telecommunications
5182-Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services
5191-Other Information Services
5413-Architectural, Engineering and Related Services
5415-Computer Systems Design and Related Services
5416-Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
5417-Scientific Research and Development Services
6215-Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
8112-Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair & Maintenance
Alberta’s knowledge-intensive (high-tech) company employment information comes from Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey (See Surveys for more information on the LFS).
Affordability of the learning System
Average Undergraduate Tuition Fees for Full-Time Canadian Learners
Tuition fees are an indicator of the affordability of the post-secondary system. Tuition fees are only a portion of all costs incurred by learners.The data does not account for student financial assistance. Fees reported represent the average undergraduate tuition fees for full-time students in current Canadian dollars for the 2010-11 academic year.
Data comes from Statistics Canada’s Survey of Tuition and Living Accommodation Costs for Full-time Students at Canadian Degree-granting Institutions Survey. For more information, see the Statistics Canada reference at
Average Education-Related Debt Reported by 2007-08 Graduates at Time of Graduation
The average loan amount from government sources for Alberta post-secondary learners graduating from their program in 2007-08 reported was $18,737.
Data comes from theAlberta Post-Secondary Graduate Outcomes Survey, Class of 2007-08 (See Surveys for more information on the Graduate Outcomes Survey). Graduates surveyed two years after graduation were asked to provide their school-related government student loan debt at the time of graduation.
Full-Time Students Receiving Financial Assistance
This is the number of full-time Alberta learners receiving provincial and/or federal student loans, grants, and bursary awards. This does not include learners receiving scholarships. This is a unique student count; a learner may receive multiple awards but they are only counted once.
Data comes from Advanced Education and Technology administrative records and Advanced Education and Technology’s Students Finance System (See Databases for more information on the SFS).
Government of AlbertaScholarship Recipients
Scholarships are awarded to students for academic excellence or in recognition of other achievements, such as leadership or athletic ability. Reported here is the number of Alberta learners receiving Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund, and Achievement scholarships in the fiscal year (April 1,2009 to March 31, 2010). Scholarship recipients and dollars awarded do not include French Fellowship awards, which are federal scholarship dollars administered by Advanced Education and Technology.
Alberta Scholarship Programs currently administers over 50 different scholarships funded through the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund and the Achievement Scholarship Program. All awards are merit based, including academic, artistic, athletic and community service scholarships.
Data comes from Advanced Education and Technology administrative records and Students Finance System (See Databases for more information on the SFS).
AET Scholarship Dollars per Full-Time Student
Scholarship dollars per full-time student provides a snapshot of the ministry’s ability to fulfill one of its priorities of ensuring quality and innovation in the advanced learning system. Scholarship investment reflects the advanced learning system’s ability to recognize achievement and excellence that occurs throughout the learning process.
The scholarship dollars per full-time student is determined by the total scholarship expenditures divided by the total number of full-time students in Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.
Scholarship expenditure data comes from Alberta Advanced Education and Technology’s Learner Assistance Sector and includes ministry expenditures on Achievement Scholarships. Enrolment data comes from Advanced Education and Technology’s Learner Enrollment Reporting System (See Databases for more information on LERS).
Ratio of Total Debt at Graduation to Income Two Years After Graduation
The ratio of debt at graduation to income two years after graduation indicates the ability of learners to repay debts incurred based on income earned after graduation. The ratio of debt to income is a way of assessing the outcomes of a post-secondary credential (higher income due to employability) compared to the financial costs of attaining a post-secondary education. A lower ratio of debt to income is indicative of lower debt levels of students and/or higher incomes after graduation.
Data comes from the Alberta Post-Secondary Graduate Outcomes Survey, Class of 2007-08 (See Surveys for more information on the Graduate Outcomes Survey). Graduates were asked to provide their estimated gross annual salaries two years after graduation, and what their school-related debt was at the time of graduation from both government and private loan sources.