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The province is boosting specific post-secondary fields in a bid to more quickly supply the job market with badly-needed employees.
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To meet labour demands being voiced by employers and emerging industries, the UCP government said Monday it will invest $5.6 million to create so-called micro-credentialing programs.
The pilot project will fund 56 programs in 19 post-secondary schools in such areas as artificial intelligence, specialized agriculture, solar energy, health technology, pharmaculture design and animation.
“We must do everything we can to ensure Albertans have access to a wide range of learning options that meet them where they are and lead to great careers when they graduate,” said Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.
“It will help Albertans affected by the economic downturn to quickly re-skill or up-skill and connect with new employment opportunities.”
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The micro-credentialing, which will begin this September, is designed to help students be flexible, accessible and to enter the workforce more rapidly, he said.
The approach has been employed for decades by Lethbridge College but the additional investment is good news, said CEO Paula Burns.
“They really do compliment what Lethbridge College has offered for over 60 years,” she said.
“Micro-credentials really do (emphasize) specific competencies while retaining that robust academic rigour.”
One area increasingly needing local expertise that would benefit from the program is the burgeoning TV and film industry, said Michael Mahon, president of the University of Lethbridge.
“This creates the opportunity for many people including the University of Lethbridge to play a key role in enabling Albertans to seize this opportunity and help ensure our province has the requisite skills so these projects continue to grow in our province,” said Mahon.
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“When I think of the impact of just this one micro-credential program and consider the nuances of 56 such programs across Alberta, this is really what building the economy back is all about.”
In the face of mounting debt, the provincial government has taken heat for decreasing operational funding for post-secondary education while asking colleges and universities to raise more of that money themselves.
That’s led to layoffs within some of those institutions, including the University of Calgary.
The province has also instituted a performance-based funding model for post-secondary institutions.
Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
Province priming post-secondary education to boost economy - Calgary Herald
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