Ensuring that Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest post-secondary institution remains ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Memorial University announced today the beginning of the design phase of a new core sciences facility and the university’s plans for an overall efficiency review.
 
“Memorial’s core sciences facility will address students’ needs for modern laboratories, much-needed space and help to create nearly 1,440 direct and indirect person years of employment and approximately $94 million in labour income during its construction phase,” said Kevin O’Brien, minister of Advanced Education and Skills. “As the university completes the development of this important project, which will be an essential component of the university’s infrastructure, an efficiency review will also help position the university for the future and tell us how we can best target our investments to ensure innovative growth and programming at Memorial.”
 
Memorial will soon call a tender for the design of the core sciences facility. A significant source of funding for the facility will be provided through a portion of the $150 million the province was awarded concerning fabrication of a third module for the Hebron Project in 2012. The agreement also provided funding to support strategic health-care investments and geoscience initiatives in the province’s offshore.
 
Guiding principles of Memorial University’s efficiency review will include:

• A collaborative approach, led by Memorial, and  engaging the university community
• Comparing the university with other universities
• Reviewing the relationship of programs to the university’s mandate
• Reviewing administrative structures and policies
•    Reviewing sponsored research
•    Regular updates and reporting timelines
 
“Any efficiency we find will be reinvested in our post-secondary programming, our students and other priorities as we continue to deliver world-class post-secondary education to Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” said President Kachanoski. “Through this review, and with a continued commitment from the provincial government to support the core sciences facility, Memorial can continue its ascendency as one of the most distinguished universities in Canada.”
 
Newfoundland and Labrador is a leader in the delivery of affordable and accessible post-secondary education and remains a model for the rest of Canada, thanks to an ongoing tuition freeze, both at Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic, needs-based grants and interest-free student loans and debt-reduction initiatives.