Higher education and national and global public good(s) in Ontario, Canada

Abstract This paper explores contributions to public good(s) in higher education in Ontario, Canada. In a break from the trend of this special issue, this paper does not offer a comprehensive national study. Rather, it is based on a multiple case study conducted in a single predominantly English-speaking province, Ontario, drawing on 19 semi-structured interviews conducted in 2019 with policymakers and university staff, including those in academic and executive roles. The analysis offers novel insights into contemporary understandings of public good(s) in general, and Ontarian higher education’s contributions to the public good, and its relationship with the state and global community. Participants highlighted three dimensions of the public good: economic, knowledge-based, and social. While participants from the provincial and national spheres focused more on narratives of province- or nation-building through economic development and social mobility, university staff additionally highlighted knowledge-based contributions, emphasizing an educated citizenry, critical debate, and curiosity-driven research.