BC’s 11 Public Colleges Sign on to a Culture of Collaboration
December 8, 2010 Victoria, BC | “A unified public college system that responds as one to the BC labour market. That,” stated Jim Hamilton, President of Okanagan College and Chair of BC Colleges, “is the bold vision that we as a college system committed to at the Advance 2010+ conference held in Vancouver last month. Our 11 member colleges have agreed to a culture of collaboration that will ultimately lead to the development and implementation of a framework for system-wide education planning by the end of 2011.”
Through their commitment to a culture of collaboration, BC’s colleges are taking a leadership role that will allow them to respond to the emerging and changing requirements of BC’s labour market. “This commitment to collaboration by our colleges will translate into bold actions,” said Jim Reed, President of BC Colleges. “Colleges have already begun collaborating on programs that will increase participation rates, ease transition between secondary, post-secondary and the workforce and make transfers between institutions seamless. These are the kinds of initiatives that will help us to prepare British Columbians for the jobs of tomorrow.“
British Columbia, like the rest of Canada, is facing a looming skills gap with the first baby-boomers turning sixty-five in 2011. This, coupled with the transition towards a more knowledge-based economy, means there will not be enough skilled workers to replace the vast numbers set to retire. As the primary provider of workers with advanced skills and education for employment in British Columbia, BC’s colleges are well positioned to play a key role in educating British Columbians for the jobs of tomorrow. And research indicates that over 75% of future jobs will require post-secondary education, so colleges must be ready to respond to the gap between labour force needs and the Province’s training capacity.
Responding as one, to emerging and changing requirements of the BC labour market, will allow BC’s colleges to focus on the important role they play in the regional economic and skills development of the Province during this time of significant change in British Columbia. Click here to read BC's Colleges Commitment to Collaboration.
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BC Colleges is a consortium representing the Province’s 11 public colleges, serving almost 200,000 students annually with campuses in close to 70 communities throughout British Columbia. Our colleges offer a comprehensive range of programs from university studies and baccalaureate degrees to career, technical and trades education. All programs are designed to be accessible, affordable and responsive to the evolving needs of BC communities and industry.
Contact:
Jim Reed, President of BC Colleges – 250-595-4866
Alix Cameron, Red CAB Communications – 604-839-2770
Cindy Ball, Red CAB Communications – 604-828-8050