U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities

U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities

Formation	1991
Legal status	Association of Canadian-based universities
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Region served	Canada
Membership	15 Dalhousie University, McGill University, McMaster University, Queen's University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, Université de Montréal, Université Laval
Official language	English, French
Chair	Feridun Hamdullahpur[1]
Website	u15.ca

The U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities (commonly shortened to U15) (French: U15 Regroupement des universités de recherche du Canada) is an association of 15 Canadian public research universities. It is headquartered in Ottawa and was established in 1991 to represent its members' interests, primarily to provincial and federal governments, concerning the research enterprise and government programs supporting research and development.

Its member institutions undertake 80 percent of all competitive university research in Canada, and represent a research enterprise valued at more than $5 billion annually.^[2] Together, they contribute upwards of C$36 billion to the Canadian economy every year; as well as produce more than 70 percent of all doctorates awarded in Canada.^[2]

History

The core of the U15 began when executive heads of five universities in Ontario—McMaster University, Queen's University, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo and the University of Western Ontario—began to meet informally to consider mutual interests. This group of five Ontario-based universities formed an association in the mid-1980s to advance the interests of their research-intensive institutions.^[3] By 1989, vice-presidents from other Canadian universities had joined the initial group. After a meeting at the University of British Columbia, they agreed to meet twice annually to share common concerns. In 1991, the universities formed a Group of Ten, made up of the original five Ontario universities, along with McGill University, University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, Université de Montréal, and Université Laval.^[3]

The group has since expanded twice, once in 2006, and again in 2011. In 2006, the group expanded to include Dalhousie University, University of Calgary, and the University of Ottawa, becoming the Group of Thirteen.^[3] In 2011, the group grew to its current size and membership with the addition of the University of Manitoba and the University of Saskatchewan. The group was reorganized and renamed as the U15.^[3] In 2012, the executive heads created a U15 Directorate and appointed the organization's first executive director.^[4]

Organisation

The executive heads of the member universities govern the U15, supported by their respective chief academic officers and vice-presidents of research.^[1] The executive organ of the group is the Executive Committee, made up of the Chair and two Vice-Chairs. The U15 appoints a Chair through a process of peer nomination to lead the governing body. The committee is charged with acting on behalf of the U15 concerning operational matters related to the Secretariat.^[1] The current Chair is Feridun Hamdullahpur, who also serves as the president of the University of Waterloo.^[1]

In addition, the U15's Executive Committee operates a number of sub-committees that assist the administration in its operations. The Academic Affairs Committee advances collaborative initiatives and attempts to maximize cooperation among the member institutions.^[1] The Research Committee attempts to advance the research agenda of its member institutions.^[1] The Data Exchange Steering Committee is charged with setting the priorities and recommending annual work plans for research data specialists at member universities.^[1]

Membership

The U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities currently has 15 members, of which six are from Ontario, three from Quebec, two from Alberta, and one from British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan. Seven of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada are represented in the group. Three of the six Ontario-based U15 universities are located within the Greater Golden Horseshoe, while two of the three Quebec-based universities are located within Montreal.

Collectively, the members of U15 represent 47 percent of all university students in the Canada, 71 percent of all full-time doctoral students in the country,^[5] 87 percent of all contracted private-sector research in Canada, and 80 percent of all patents and start-ups in Canada.^[5] As a group, the U15 universities attract C$5.3 billion in annual research income, notably holding 80 percent of all competitively allocated research funding in Canada.

Alberta

British Columbia

Calgary

Dalhousie

Laval

Manitoba

McGill

McMaster

Montréal

Ottawa

Queen's

Saskatchewan

Toronto

Waterloo

Western Ontario

Locations of U15 Group universities.

^[5]

Notes: ^a Based on the AUCC's 2013 preliminary full-time and part-time enrolment figures.^{[7] b} Established date is given as the year in which the institution was founded, and not when degree-granting powers were granted. ^c For the 2012 fiscal year. Figures are in Canadian dollars. The data was obtained from Statistics Canada through Research Infosource^[8]

Ranking

The institutions of U15 rank among the world's premier institutions.^[2] The following table shows the ranking of these institutions from a variety of international and national rankings.

Notes: ^a Based on ARWU 2014 rankings^{[9] b} Based on QS 2014 rankings^{[10] c} Based on THE-WUR 2014-2015 rankings^{[11] d} Based off Maclean's 2014 Medical-Doctoral rankings^[12]

See also

• List of Canadian universities by endowment
• Association of American Universities – A group of research-based universities primarily from the United States and two from Canada
• Russell Group – A group of research-based universities in the United Kingdom
• Group of Eight (Australian universities) - A group of leading Australian tertiary institutions intensive in research and comprehensive in general and professional education
• LERU – A group of leading European universities

Notes and references

External links

• Official website