Good afternoon. My name is Claude Laguë. I am the dean of the faculty of engineering at the University of Ottawa, but I am also the current chair of the Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering and past chair of the National Council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Science.
I will be able to answer your questions with regard to our particular situation at the University of Ottawa. I also have a fairly good understanding of what is happening elsewhere in the country.
There are more than 45 engineering schools in our country. Just to give you a few numbers, that means about 90,000 students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs of studies. We typically deliver about 15,000 to 16,000 degrees in engineering at the undergraduate, master's, and Ph.D. levels collectively.
Our mission is a dual one. Of course, we have the mission of educating future engineers, those who will practise engineering in Canada as well as in other countries in the future. Also, at the advanced level, we educate the people who are going to be the future experts and researchers in the different engineering disciplines.
We also have, as part of our mission, a very strong emphasis on research and development, so we are advancing knowledge related to engineering in all the different disciplines that we cover.
All in all, in terms of people who are engaged in those activities in engineering, about 7,500 people—professors and employees—are delivering this education and fulfilling this research agenda across our country.
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have on these issues related to engineering education and research when we get there.