Province promotes private partnerships for colleges

Loyalist CEO Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, with MPPs Todd Smith and Ross Romano speak with June MacDonald-Jenkins, Dean of the School of Health, Human and Justice Studies during a tour of the college’s health sciences learning areas.

Innovative and entrepreneurial partnerships will be encouraged at Loyalist College due to new provincial policy designed to allow them to be more financially competitive.

Tuesday, Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, was at the college to make the announcement, noting the economic advantages from delivering partnership programs to more students in more locations can be invested back into the colleges’ main campuses and local communities.

“Through these partnerships, students will get the education and training they need for good jobs so Ontario businesses have the skilled workforce to grow and make Ontario open for business and open for jobs,” said Romano. “These partnerships will strengthen communities across the province by encouraging international students to study at campuses outside the Greater Toronto Area, and to remain there after their studies.”

Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith, a graduate of Loyalist, said the partnerships will help the college.

“For over 50 years, Loyalist College has been a destination for those looking to further their education and obtain the training and skills they need to land a good job,” he said. “As a Loyalist graduate, I am pleased that this new policy will allow the college to pursue innovative partnerships with private providers and grow as a key contributor to the Bay of Quinte economy.”

Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College CEO and president, said the new policy on public-private partnerships will help attract and train more international students.

“Colleges and communities will benefit from Minister Romano’s announcement today, as well as recent Ontario government initiatives such as the reduction of red tape, enabling us to respond more quickly to regional labour market needs by streamlining the program approval process.”

The new policy on college partnerships will give colleges more flexibility to meet strong demand from international students for Ontario’s high-quality postsecondary education.

Six publicly assisted Ontario colleges (Cambrian, Canadore, Lambton, Northern, St. Clair and St. Lawrence) currently have private partnership agreements for the delivery of programs leading to an Ontario college credential in Canada.

International students with a credential from an Ontario public college may apply for a work permit for up to three years under the federal Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.