Post-secondary students at 16 colleges, institutes and universities throughout British Columbia will benefit from an investment of $1.3 million to raise awareness of the benefits of work experience among employers and students.

Students at colleges and universities on Vancouver Island will be encouraged to explore co-op opportunities to support their career ambitions.

Ten public post-secondary institutions will receive targeted funding to create short-term coding programs that give students the coding skills in demand by tech employers.

A $500,000 investment will establish scholarships at public post-secondary institutions that encourage women to pursue education that aligns with the needs of the growing tech sector in British Columbia.

Students at the University of Victoria (UVic) have saved more than $51,000 through the Open Textbook Project. These educational resources are easily accessed and shared online among students and faculty, and are available in a number of programs including earth and ocean sciences, economics and technology and society.

The Province has proclaimed March 7 as BC Colleges Day. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the critical role colleges in British Columbia play in connecting students of all ages to the education and training they need to secure a prosperous future.

Greater numbers of international students are selecting British Columbia as their study destination.

The Ministry of Advanced Education is funding partnerships that connect Aboriginal students with education and training programs in their communities. These programs provide Aboriginal learners with work-ready skills such as basic computer literacy, as well as skills needed for jobs in sectors such as construction, tourism and education.

Thousands of student spaces have been newly targeted over the last three years as operating grants for public post-secondary institutions are aligned with education and training for a variety of in-demand occupations.

Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $70-million investment in a new health-science centre at Camosun College and a Centre for Environmental Science and International Partnership at Royal Roads University (RRU).