Nunavut government examines possibility of a university

Could Nunavut support its own university? That is the question Nunavut'sgovernment is trying to answer.

Earlier this month, a request for proposals closed on a feasibility study looking atcreating a university in the territory. The departments of education and community and government services are working together on the project.

"It's certainly a big project," said JohnMacDonald, the assistant deputy minister of education.

"And we want to make sure that whatever firm is successful, in terms of this, that they do a really comprehensive analysis of whether a university is feasible for the territory."

The RFP outlines a wide-ranging list of what the government hopes to find out about a potential university:everything from construction costs to attracting instructors to the legislation needed to operate a university.

The study will also include:

• data on the current and future demographics
• the ability to attract students from across, and outside of, Canada
• the financial impact of capital and operating costs
• potential funding sources
• total land area needed and the best location
• alternative university models in use

MacDonald said the contract could be awarded in the next month or so. Then, he hopes the feasibility study would be completed by the end of March.

"I'm excited to see what this brings and I certainly am looking forward to seeing the actual results of the study itself," he said.

Last March, Nunavut'sEducation minister said plans for a university could be ready for the spring sitting.

"We're really hopeful," said the head of the society that advocates for post-secondary education in Nunavut.

Anne Crawford,the director of the Ilitturvik Society, saysthere has been talk about a northern university for more than 40 years.

But, she says the discussion has accelerated in recent years and has focusedon Nunavut and its language and culture.

A Nunavut university would be unique to the territory, says Crawford,but it would also have elements to attract southern students.

She saysthe territory needs a university that can producehomegrown accountants, lawyers, wildlife biologists or mining engineers.

"Until Nunavut starts to generate people in those professions, we don't really have control over our own destiny. The ideas are being imported, the skills are being imported and they're not being locally generated."