Students at the Quesnel campus of the College of New Caledonia will be able to access two new short-term courses, camp cook and essential office skills, that will prepare them for in-demand occupations.

This programming is being offered based on consultations with and demand from the community and Aboriginal partners.

“Our government is targeting funding for vocational programs that are aligned with in-demand occupations,” said Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes on behalf of Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Camp cook and essential office skills are two programs that will be welcome news in our community for students.”

In addition to the new short-term programming, CNC is currently piloting new-distance learning technologies to allow students in Quesnel to link in with instructors in Prince George and vice versa. The goal of the Digital Delivery Initiative is to ensure that students in smaller communities continue to receive high-quality education and training. The Digital Delivery Initiative will be rolled out to other campuses in the next year.

“Advances in technology, such as broadband Internet connectivity in Northern British Columbia, are helping bring in demand instruction to smaller communities while ensuring that program delivery remains viable,” said CNC president Henry Reiser. “Combined with regional programming, high-quality post-secondary education and training will remain accessible for Quesnel residents.”

The provincial government has provided $400,000 to support short-term, technical and vocationally focused programs that support in-demand occupations at four College of New Caledonia campuses, including Quesnel. Program offerings were determined in conjunction with consultations that the college held with communities and Aboriginal partners.

Government is also providing $302,000 toward the cost of the Digital Delivery Initiative at CNC, which relies on new technologies and improvements to broadband Internet connectivity.

Nearly one million job openings are expected in British Columbia over the next decade, and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education. B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint outlines a plan to re-engineer the education system by aligning education and training with in-demand jobs in British Columbia.