Office of the Premier
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is receiving $357,450 toward the purchase of new trades and health care training equipment that will provide trades and health care students with hands-on experience.
The new funding was announced by Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson as he visited the BCIT campus today.
(flickr.com) BCIT plans to purchase equipment such as an obstetrics simulator, intravenous infusion pumps and engine lathes to ensure trades and health students have the tools they need to succeed. The new equipment gives students the opportunity to have hands-on learning experience with equipment they will find at the workplace.
The Ministry of Advanced Education is targeting funding and programs to sectors that have a high-demand for skilled workers. British Columbia is expecting nearly one million job openings in the province over the next decade, and 8/10 of these openings will require post-secondary education such as university, college or apprenticeship training.
Ensuring sectors such as construction and manufacturing have the skilled workers they need is part of the government’s work to ensure B.C. has a diverse, strong and growing economy.
With the announcement today of $357,450, government has provided more than $23 million to BCIT through B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.
Quotes:
Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson –
“Our government is putting B.C. students to the front of the line for the job openings that are expected as a result of retirements and new economic opportunities. New equipment for trades and health care training will ensure that BCIT students are job-ready by training them on the same type of equipment that industry uses.”
BCIT president Kathy Kinloch –
“New health care training equipment will help BCIT students get hands-on training for in-demand jobs in B.C. This is a prime example of how BCIT is turning the government’s Blueprint into action – to ensure our economy has the skilled labour when and where it needs it.”
MLA for Burnaby-North Richard T. Lee –
“BCIT has a reputation for graduating highly skilled and very well prepared students for high demand jobs in our economy. This is a tremendous investment to ensure our graduates are working with the leading-edge technologies.”
BCIT dean School of Construction and the Environment Wayne Hand –
“This funding for trades training equipment will support students entering in-demand sectors throughout the province. Our students will be able to train on industry-current equipment, allowing them to hit the ground running once they reach the jobsite.”
Quick Facts:
- There will be almost one million job openings in British Columbia over the next decade, and most of these openings will require post-secondary training.
- Approximately 42% of job openings will require college education or apprenticeship training.
- 36% will require university and/or significant work experience.
- 18% will require high school and/or occupation-specific training.
Learn More:
B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: http://ow.ly/YCyjt (workbc.ca)
B.C. 2024 Labour Market Outlook: http://ow.ly/YFiQS (workbc.ca)
BCIT Trades and Apprenticeship/Technician: http://www.bcit.ca/path/trades/programs/
