Algonquin College supports call for new strategy to expand degree programs at colleges
Posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2020
(OTTAWA, July 7, 2020) – Ontario’s colleges are calling for a new provincial strategy for post-secondary education that will expand the range of degree programs at colleges, including the creation of career-focused, three-year degree programs and master’s programs in specialized fields.
“Through innovation, creativity and flexibility, we can transform the scope of opportunities available to Ontario college students,” said Claude Brulé, President and CEO of Algonquin College. “Working together with government, we can help more people acquire the expertise that is needed in our communities. We can create new, dynamic educational options that prepare learners for cutting-edge, in-demand jobs.”
The recommendation has been submitted to Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano’s recently announced consultations on modernizing post-secondary education.
The call for a new vision for post-secondary education follows the recent release of a white paper, “The Future of Ontario’s Workers,” by the StrategyCorp Institute of Public Policy and Economy. The white paper proposes measures to drive economic growth as Ontario emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown.
The white paper calls for the province to give colleges the autonomy to decide independent of government what mix of credentials and programs will best respond to the evolving labour market and accelerating automation in the workplace.
The proposed post-secondary strategy would help fulfil Ontario’s transition to a performance-based post-secondary system by placing greater emphasis on graduates’ success. It would authorize colleges to:
- Create new career-focused three-year degree programs, replacing many of the current diploma programs.
- Expand the range of four-year degree programs at colleges to meet local demand without being restricted by arbitrary provincial maximums.
- Create master’s degree programs for university and college graduates for in-demand specialized fields such as robotics, cybersecurity and animation.
Colleges are also recommending the government provide more funding for short-term micro-credential programs to increase the retraining opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.
-30-
For media inquiries:
Ruth Dunley
Communications Manager
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452
dunleyr@algonquincollege.com
Chris Lackner
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 2091
lacknec@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College:
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.
- Posted in
- News