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 2026
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
Lula’s Return and the Future of Brazilian Higher Education
It’s been quite a big few weeks for elections around…
Inside Italian Higher Education: Excellence, Affordability and Change
This podcast basically comes in three flavours. In one, we…
Featured
The Canadian Autonomy Scorecard (Part 3)
Over the past two days (see Part 1 and Part 2), we have been comparing the autonomy granted to public universities by all ten provinces, along four different dimensions (organizational, financial, staffing and academic), using a methodology originally devised by the European Universities Association (EUA), with a few modifications from me to make this project […]
Subscribe to the Blog
Subscribe to have Alex Usher’s One Thought to Start Your Day blog sent straight to your email.