Students at Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) will benefit from $100,000 in funding toward the purchase of new industry-standard trades equipment, including portable welding booths that will enable students to prepare for jobs in the trades.

Eleven public post-secondary institutions in B.C. are receiving funding for additional programs and services to improve the educational outcomes of Aboriginal learners, strengthen partnerships between post-secondary institutions and Aboriginal communities, and increase the relevance of post-secondary institutions for Aboriginal learners.  

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is providing Aboriginal students a range of programs and services that will support their learning journey. This will include an Aboriginal Awareness Week during March 2017 that will showcase Aboriginal culture and knowledge, Elders-in-residence, cultural learning and mentoring.

Capilano University (Cap U) will provide Aboriginal students with tangible skills for teaching language in communities through a language and culture program. Vancouver Community College (VCC) will provide the gateway to careers program to help Aboriginal students develop, set and reach educational and career goals.

Students in B.C. have even more to look forward to this back-to-school season as free open textbooks hit up to $2 million in overall student savings.

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.

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.

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.

Premier Christy Clark announced $450,000 to support the transition and planning work that will allow nursing students at the College of the Rockies to complete the four-year University of Victoria degree program in the region.