We help post-secondary leaders think
strategically, act decisively, and connect meaningfully.
About US
We are Higher Education Strategy Associates (HESA). Together with post‑secondary institutions, governments, and agencies, we deliver tailored, evidence‑based strategic consulting and policy analysis. Since 2009, we’ve partnered with leaders across academia and government to shape more equitable, effective, and future‑ready higher education systems in Canada—and beyond.
Strategic Planning & Governance
Strategic planning and governance advice for higher education, grounded in deep sector expertise and stakeholder insight.
Academic
Planning
We help institutions design market-relevant academic programs and can also help navigate regulatory approval processes in Ontario and B.C.
Institutional Improvement
Helping institutions solve operational and strategic challenges with research-driven, practical solutions for efficiency and impact.
Economic & Social
Impact Studies
We measure impact beyond numbers, showing how institutions drive opportunity, knowledge, prosperity, and community growth.
Publication
The State of Postsecondary Education in Canada 2025
The State of Postsecondary Education in Canada (SPEC) is an annually updated and freely available compendium of crucial higher education data that tracks trends in areas such as international student enrolment, enrolment by field, and student assistance. It is designed to provide administrators, faculty, researchers, and policy makers with analysis and insights that aggregates several data sources — saving time and effort.
Blog
One Thought to Start Your Day
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.
Podcast
Liberty and Zhi: Chinese and Anglo-American Ideas of the University
While the world has a lot of higher education systems,…
Featured
The Fifteen: March 20, 2026
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in higher education. There are the downstream consequences of the attack on Iran, interesting developments on the left and the right in Latin America, a couple of important global reports and some AI-related developments in China as it approaches adoption of the 15th five-year plan. Let’s go! 1. […]
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