Post-secondary progress in motion in Alberta
By Adam Freill
Construction LabourKey training initiatives aiming to provide Albertans with in-demand skills and knowledge.
Over the past several months, the Alberta government has made key investments and system improvements to help achieve the vision and goals of the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy.
“Alberta 2030 is the first strategic plan for our post-secondary system in 15 years. It supports Alberta’s Recovery Plan, which will diversify the economy today to create jobs tomorrow,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, the provincial minister of advanced education. “I’m proud of these first steps and I’m excited to keep working with our students, staff and faculty to build a stronger post-secondary system.”
Among the strategy’s flagship initiatives is the expansion of the apprenticeship model of learning. This has involved inviting post-secondary institutions to submit proposals for new programs that provide a majority of education through paid, on-the-job mentorship.
The government has also been working with industry associations, including the Alberta Construction Association, to create new work-integrated learning opportunities to provide meaningful paid work placements for hundreds of students.
“NAIT appreciates Alberta 2030’s focus on providing Albertans with the skills and knowledge to have meaningful careers. The expansion of apprenticeship programming and work-integrated learning will give many more Alberta students a head start on their career while deepening the connection between post-secondary and industry,” stated Laura Jo Gunter, president and CEO of NAIT. “We look forward to further collaboration that will bring together post-secondary institutions with critical stakeholders to support innovative initiatives across the sector.”
The provincial government’s Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy aims to develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, strengthen innovation and commercialization of research, and forge stronger relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions. The strategy was developed following extensive research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
