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We are Higher Education Strategy Associates

We provide strategic insight and guidance to governments, post-secondary institutions, and agencies through excellence and expertise in policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic consulting services. Through these activities, HESA strives to improve the quality, efficacy, and fairness of higher education systems in Canada and worldwide.

Strategic Planning and Governance

Academic Planning

Institutional Improvement

Economic and Social Impact Studies

International Markets and Mobility

Program Reviews

Statistical Collections & Public Policy

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Get in touch with us today. We’d love to hear from you.

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Featured Publications

Here is a collection of some of our most recent publicly available research. Check out our publications page to view our full archive.

Monitoring Trends in Academic Programs 4: Water thumbnail Monitoring Trends in Academic Programs 4: Water
2021 | Monitoring Trends in Academic Programs
Strengthening Regional Colleges in Canada thumbnail Strengthening Regional Colleges in Canada
2021 |
State of Postsecondary Education in Canada 2023 thumbnail State of Postsecondary Education in Canada 2023
2023 | State of Postsecondary Education
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One Thought to Start Your Day blog

One Thought to Start Your Day is our founder and CEO Alex Usher’s popular daily blog, brimming with up-to-the-minute insights and informed opinions on today’s higher education industry.

Effective Graduates

One of the most tiresome debates in post-secondary education is about whether or not students emerge from their studies “job … Continued

Code Red on University Autonomy

There is no aspect of university autonomy that is more fundamental – in the British Commonwealth at least — than … Continued

Last Week in Parliament: Three Takeaways

It was a busy week in Parliament last week.  The King came to Ottawa to deliver a Speech From the … Continued

Opening January 2026: Inside One of the Biggest University Mergers in Australia

There’s a huge story going on right now in Australian higher education, one that hasn’t made many ripples outside the … Continued

Data Flourishing for Universities and Colleges (Governance Edition)

Yesterday, we wrote about how to make institutions flourish through better use of data…for management. But just as important as … Continued

Data Flourishing for Universities and Colleges (Management Edition)

Hi all. I’m writing jointly today with colleagues Andrew Drinkwater and Pat Lougheed from Plaid Analytics, a company with whom … Continued

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