January 18, 2018 – Collège Mathieu, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the University of Regina today signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) committing the parties to work together in mutual support of nursing/health related French-language educational programs.
“There is a growing demand in Saskatchewan’s francophone communities for health-care-related providers who are fluent in both official languages,” says Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Regina. “By signing this Letter of Intent our three institutions are agreeing to work together to support a laddering concept for French-language/bilingual nursing-health programs – continuing care assistant, practical nursing, and registered nursing – to help meet the demand for health care providers in our francophone communities and with French-speaking residents of Saskatchewan.”
“We deeply appreciate our partnerships with the University of Regina and Collège Mathieu, and we welcome this new opportunity to work alongside them to ensure today’s health-care providers have the technical and linguistic skills necessary to meet the demands of the communities we serve,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “Signing this LOI will significantly benefit Francophone communities and nursing students across the province.”
“Saskatchewan is among the determinants of the inter-provincial migration and international immigration, and experiences a steady increase of students in French and immersion schools. Therefore, there is a need to offer post-secondary education for French speaking people to strengthen their skills and competencies,” says Mr. Francis Kasongo, CEO of Collège Mathieu. “This collaboration allows access to greater health-care services, but it also contributes to professional fulfillment for any French language natives and Francophiles who are planning to build a career in health.”
The Letter of Intent further commits the parties to sharing resources, as appropriate, and to the development of a Memorandum of Agreement to further define collaborative outcomes regarding French-language education programming.
About Collège Mathieu
Founded in 1918 and with a strong experience of 100 years, Collège Mathieu has achieved a lot in the education sector in French in Saskatchewan both at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Today, it offers collegial training in French aimed at helping Francophone people to prepare their professional career. The institution offers post-secondary certificates and diplomas in a variety of programs, including trades, and non-credited programs, continuing education, basic literacy and various customized training. With its campuses in Gravelbourg, Regina and Saskatoon, and online courses, students and learners can easily access premium education throughout Saskatchewan.
About Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves 28,000 distinct students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
About the University of Regina
The University of Regina - with campuses located on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, the ancestral lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota and Nakoda nations and the homeland of the Métis - is a comprehensive, mid-sized university that traces its roots back to the creation of Regina College in 1911. Today, more than 15,000 students study within the University's 10 faculties, 25 academic departments/schools, 18 research centres and institutes, and three federated colleges (Campion College, First Nations University of Canada, and Luther College). The University of Regina has an established reputation for excellence and innovative programs that lead to undergraduate, master, and doctoral degrees. In 2017, the University of Regina was ranked in the Top 200 Best Young Universities in the world by Times Higher Education.