THUNDER BAY – The Ontario government announced on April 11 that colleges in the province can now develop new three-year degree programs, a historic breakthrough that ensures more students will acquire the professional expertise to succeed in their careers says Confederation College president Kathleen Lynch.
"You're going to get this hands-on training, you're going to get the applied part of a college education that's so important to people, but you're going to leave with a degree at the end of the day, and that's really recognizable really across Canada but internationally,” said Lynch.
“It's a great step forward for colleges, a great step forward for our students and I couldn't be more thrilled that the government has recognized the need for this step in our evolution."
Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop announced at an event at Conestoga College in Kitchener that colleges can begin developing new three-year degree programs alongside their diploma programs and can expand their range of career-focused four-year degree programs.
“Expanding the degree programs at colleges ensures more students will have access to high-quality, career-focused programs,” said Dunlop.
“More students will acquire the expertise and credentials to succeed in today’s job market.”
Prior to yesterday’s announcement, colleges were only authorized to award degrees to graduates of their career-focused four-year programs.
The announcement recognizes the success of the colleges’ degree programs and brings true equity to Ontario’s post-secondary system. It ensures every student whose education fulfills Ontario’s degree-level requirements is awarded a degree upon graduation says Lynch.
Confederation College is excited to begin planning which programs should offer a three year applied degree for in-demand jobs.
“Local businesses really benefit when the skill sets they require of their employees to be successful are in their own back yard,” said Joe Quaresima, owner of Sencia, a Thunder Bay web design and development business.
“My business wants to hire qualified, skilled graduates from the region. More options for education not only benefit future students, but the companies that want to hire them.”
