The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) recently conducted research that suggests that one-quarter of graduating students score below adequate on measures of numeracy. This is concerning and raises an important question:

How during the course of their postsecondary education can we best and most effectively upgrade the numeracy skills of postsecondary students in ways that serve them well in their personal and professional lives?

The purpose of this one-day conference is to gather individuals (numeracy experts from HEQCO and from Ontario universities, department chairs, representatives of colleges and universities, and other numeracy experts) in order to better understand numeracy and teaching numeracy, to identify obstacles to improving numeracy skills and to brainstorm solutions.

This inaugural conference is by invitation only.

Tentative agenda:

• Welcome from the Fields Institute and brief introductions
•  Message from HEQCO and overview of the existing research on numeracy and developing numeracy skills of post-secondary students in Ontario
• Short presentations on existing ideas and numeracy efforts in universities and colleges
• Panel/general discussion on opportunities, challenges and best practices of implementing numeracy initiatives
• Looking forward – Develop recommendations for government that will provide next steps for improvement