Students at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with close to $381,000 in one-time funding for 96 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students in the Okanagan who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $367,000 in one-time funding for 88 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students in northern B.C. who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $91,000 in one-time funding for 16 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students at Camosun College and Vancouver Island University who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with close to $500,000 in one-time funding for 130 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students in the Lower Mainland who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $284,000 in one-time funding for 78 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Students in the Kootenays who want to learn a trade are getting a helping hand with more than $65,000 in one-time funding for 16 foundation seats in targeted trades training courses during 2013-14.

Twenty open textbooks will be developed for skills training and technical post-secondary subject areas.

Many post-secondary students starting or returning to classes this September will be attending one of British Columbia's private universities, colleges or career-training schools.