Trades students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) will benefit from hands-on learning opportunities through a new investment of $187,071 in industry-standard trades-training equipment, as well as $4.85 million in continued support for 1,366 trades seats.

Vancouver Community College (VCC) is receiving $694,605 toward the purchase of new trades-training equipment that will benefit students in the auto service technician, culinary arts, baking and pastry arts and heavy-mechanical trades programs.

Carpentry students at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) will benefit from the purchase of various tools, including new sliding compound mitre saws, routers and survey instruments, as part of a $300,000 investment by the Province in new industry-standard trades equipment.

A new protocol agreement will support collaboration to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal post-secondary students in British Columbia.

Students at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will benefit from hands-on learning opportunities following a government investment in new industry-standard trades training equipment, including replacement high-precision machining equipment.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is now accepting applications to a new Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture Diploma Program that will start in September 2016 as the inaugural program offering by the KPU School of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Construction kicked off on a new 6,000-square-metre Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) to ensure post-secondary students have the skills to succeed in a range of performance, technical apparel and product design sectors.

Construction of a new $122.65-million campus for Emily Carr University of Art and Design is nearly 50% complete.

Students on Vancouver Island who face barriers to education and training, such as physical or learning disabilities, will benefit from a range of programs focused on helping them succeed at their studies and get the skills they need to find fulfilling and in-demand jobs.

Students who face barriers to education and training – such as physical or learning disabilities – are being supported with a range of programs being developed by individual public post-secondary institutions throughout the province.