Northern College attracting more localsOntario is helping six northern colleges work together to expand access to in-demand programs and improve student access to education in the North.

Collège Boréal, Cambrian College, Canadore College, Confederation College, Northern College and Sault College are designing and delivering shared programming to improve and expand access to training opportunities in eight subject areas — business, hospitality, media arts, health, community services, technology, trades and aviation.

Ontario is investing $3.6 million over three years for the program.

Ontario’s investment in the Northern Colleges Collaborative Programming Project will help the colleges work together to:

  • Streamline resources to ensure long-term financial stability
  • Use their proven experience in technology-enabled learning to provide more students with access to postsecondary education
  • Improve the quality and efficiency of administrative and service delivery such as IT, program scheduling, curriculum generation and registration functions

Helping improve postsecondary education in northern Ontario is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people’s talents and skills, building new public infrastructure like roads and transit, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure savings plan so everyone can afford to retire.

QUICK FACTS

  • The colleges are making an in-kind investment of $1.2 million over three years to support the new collaborative programming model.
  • In August 2014, Ontario announced an investment of $3 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to help the six northern colleges market the North as a place for students to study and find work.

Operating grants provided to Ontario’s northern colleges have increased from $122 million in 2002-03 to $182 million in 2013-14 — an increase of 49 per cent.

“The Northern Colleges Collaborative Programming Project is a significant development for northern Ontario, because it creates more options for students looking to study in their home communities, said Northern College President Fred Gibbons.

“By colleges sharing in the delivery of specified programming, we are making what would otherwise be low-enrolment programs more sustainable throughout the north while simultaneously reducing overall costs. It’s truly a win-win for everyone involved.”

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Reza Moridi adds they “understand and appreciate that our northern post-secondary institutions face unique challenges in the post-secondary sector, so it’s important that the province continues to provide support in a smart way,” said

“Through this investment, these six colleges will collaborate more effectively and help improve access to a high-quality education for students — regardless of where they live.”