Introduction
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and is the largest city in Canada. The higher education system in Ontario includes universities, colleges, advisory bodies, public and private universities and association. Governance follows a bicameral approach with division of authority between the senate and board. Public funding principally relies on cooperation between the government of Ontario and the government of Canada and institutions of higher education are funded for research, instruction, investment and funding for students (Schütze, Alvarez & Conrad, 2012). Like any other government in the world, education is the foundation of improved economic status hence the need to establish several institutions of higher learning and mechanisms to ensure students receive this education is implemented. Expanding a multimedia university to this region will have a number of positive and negative impacts.
Findings
Expansion of the multimedia university will add value to the individual, society and nation at large. Findings though abstract for lack of considerable evidence, the impacts are classified into both positive and negative impacts which should be considered before the expansion plans begin.
Positive impacts
The society largely benefits from individuals who pursue higher education from the expanded institution especially in the technology sector following rapid technological advancements in the contemporary world. By offering an opportunity for the community to pursue higher education the society enjoys high rates of volunteerism during school vacations, voter participation since individuals are aware of their democratic rights and low rates of materialization since individuals become aware that we all need each other and being selfish leads to individual destruction. An individual who also pursues higher education experiences increased social status, life expectation and overall improved quality of life for self and children following their increased chances of getting better paying jobs (Eastman & Lang, 2001). The community in Toronto will relate well since graduates with diverse backgrounds have learnt to appreciate each others culture and experiences compared to their non-degree counterparts.
Negative impacts
Having another multimedia university in Toronto would mean reduced support for higher education following consideration of tradeoff that could have occupied the area the university will be located. Furthermore, expansion of the university would mean a significant disadvantage for persons in the manufacturing sector and low wage seasonal jobs as they are not in a position to train and thereafter land better paying skilled jobs. The university will bring people of different backgrounds together and in certain instances, peer pressure leads to formation of groups that contribute negatively to the society such as gangs.
Summary
There exists much discussion about the role of education in the social and economic development of a nation. In most cases the education investments are well received by the government and the community at large. Education remains a sound investment in which human capital is developed leading to positive economic output. Research indicates that higher education results to higher returns in quality of life and income at the individual level. The society also benefits through decreased spending, increased tax revenue and greater productivity from the learned individuals. Negative impacts include considerations of other trade off and discrimination between those who received higher education and those who did not have the opportunity. Despite the abstract benefits and identified negative impacts, the decision to expand the university in the city of Toronto must be carefully considered.
References
Eastman, J., & Lang, D. (2001). Mergers in higher education: Lessons from theory and experience. Toronto, On: University of Toronto Press.
Schütze, H. G., Alvarez, M. G., & Conrad, D. H. (2012). State and market in higher education reforms: Trends, policies and experiences in comparative perspective. Rotterdam: SensePublishers.
