Five post-secondary institutions are now “more connected than ever” after inking a historic Memorandum of Understanding in Fort McMurray on March 14th.
Keyano College, Lakeland College, Northern Lakes College, Northwestern Polytechnic, and Portage College signed the MoU with the desire to broaden educational pathways for students in Northern Alberta.
The agreement aims to foster collaboration between the institutions to enhance access for students and improve learner outcomes.
This also marks the first official post-secondary partnership of its kind in Alberta’s north, spanning 700 kilometres east to west from Lloydminster to Grande Prairie, and 560 kilometres north to south from Fort McMurray to Vermillion.
In Grande Prairie, NWP President and CEO Vanessa Sheane says her school is “immensely proud” to be part of the initiative.
“NWP is immensely proud to be part of a collaborative, and learner-centered approach that will proactively address student and community needs in the North,” she says. “Strengthening the ties between our institutions is a natural solution that will boost regional competitiveness and help mitigate current and future workforce challenges.”
Officials call the MoU the “first step” in formalizing transfer agreements and credential recognition between the institutions, which collectively have 34 campuses across the region. Additionally, the hope is that through the new initiative, students will have the chance to stay in the North throughout their educational journey and support retention for in-demand careers.
