U of M president wants in on G13

A letter goes out to all members to stress U of M’s importance

VERONICA CARR STAFF

A letter from U of M president Emöke Szathmáry was recently sent out to the presidents, principals and rectors of the G13 universities — a group of leading research-intensive universities across Canada — arguing why she believes the newly expanded group should include the U of M.

A little more than 10 years ago Rob Prichard, former president of the University of Toronto, formed what was originally called the Group of Ten (G10). The group participates in data exchange and its members have some of the highest financial endowments in Canada.

“Public and private perception of the G10/G13 gives its members research prowess and research authority that is assumed to be superior to that found at other Canadian universities,” Szathmáry says in a news update on her website.

In June 2006, three universities were added to the group to form the G13, including the University of Calgary, Dalhousie University and the University of Ottawa. Szathmáry is concerned that now “G13 extends from sea to sea, but the University of Manitoba continues to remain outside the group.”

U of M vice-president (research) Joanne Keselman said, “This is a topic the president has always had an interest in and for a long time has felt that this was an issue that needed to be addressed. Now that there is that addition of three new members, it is something that cannot be ignored.”

In the letter written to G13 members, four reasons were presented for further expansion of the group. The first was the “development of a national science, technology and innovation strategy through all regions that have research intensive universities.” Manitoba and Saskatchewan are the only provinces left out of G13 who have researchintensive universities.

Another reason presented in the letter was that “merits used for inclusion show that the U of M ranks above some recent additions.”

Keselman said that “if we are to create a national science and technology strategy, every province should be represented at the table. Based on what I know about the acceptance bench marks of research performance, we out-perform some of the universities that are already on there — so I do believe we deserve to be there for a number of reasons.” Szathmáry also argued for “the U of M’s indispensability to Manitoba and how that is important to G13,” because the U of M is the only medical-doctoral university in Manitoba. Due to this, “financial matters and finding issues could be helped by joining G13, [and] the experience acquired over the years may also be helpful to the group.”

The last reason was simply “the principle of fairness.” Szathmáry wrote on her website that “no research intensive university in Canada merits exclusion from the table when issues are discussed that are relevant to its future, to the province it serves and to the nation.”

Numerous attempts were made to contact the principle, the rectors and the presidents of the universities of G13 many wouldn’t respond. Karen Hitchcock, principal of Queen’s University stated, “I have to gently decline to the request of responding to any questions regarding the topic due to it currently being under discussion.”

Keselman added, “Personally I thought that the letter was very comprehensive and it provides a very compelling argument so I think it’s entirely inclusive.”

Szathmáry was unable to comment directly due to a tight work schedule.