Confederation College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic partnership benefits Indigenous students

Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Institutions signed a letter of intent to recognize and share strengths and wise practices in Indigenous post-secondary education


May 25, 2018 – Confederation College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic are working together to build on each other’s practices in the field of Indigenous education, to build capacity and grow new initiatives in Indigenous research. They signed a letter of intent to work together over the next five years.

“We have long endeavoured to contribute to the advancement of Indigenous education,” says Dr. Jim Madder, Confederation College president. “This partnership will enable us to further support our Indigenous and other learners, while sharing with and learning from equally committed colleagues. We anticipate great benefits for both of our institutions through our work together.”

This agreement supports current engagement in advancing the interests of Indigenous learners at both institutions by sharing best practices, creating new strategies, and focusing on access and retention for Indigenous learners. Sharing information will enable the partners to build on each other’s success and improve graduation rates.

“This partnership with Confederation College is an exciting opportunity,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “Indigenous students find success at Sask Polytech. Sask Polytech’s Indigenous Student Success Strategy builds on efforts that trace their beginnings to more than a decade ago. We look forward to sharing our learnings with Confederation College.”

This collaboration is led by Jason Seright, director, Indigenous Strategy at Saskatchewan Polytechnic and S. Brenda Small, vice-president, Centre for Policy and Research in Indigenous Learning, at Confederation College. 

Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa. Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 6,500 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of over 1,200 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $643.4 million annually.

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 needs, 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.

 

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