Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
The holiday season is a time when British Columbians reflect on what the year past has brought them and look to new opportunities that lie ahead. Many will decide the time is right to get post-secondary education and training, and that decision has never been more important.
EducationPlannerBC is the best resource for prospective students, parents and school counsellors wanting to understand what post-secondary education and training is offered in B.C., how they can access it and where it can lead them.
The EducationPlannerBC searchable database has:
- Planning tools such as links to WorkBC career profiles, labour market information including the Blueprint Builder, and WorkBC’s Career Compass and Career Trek.
- Information on 2,100 post-secondary programs at 25 post-secondary institutions, and information on interdisciplinary programs and student financial aid.
- An application function that allows users to create a single user account that they can then use to apply to 25 public post-secondary institutions.
The hard work students will put into researching, applying for and completing post-secondary education is investment that pays off. The 2025 B.C. Labour Market Outlook forecasts almost one million job openings in the province over the next ten years. The gateway to 80% of those opportunities is post-secondary education and training.
The public post-secondary sector in B.C. will continue to build on EducationPlannerBC in 2017. It is part of a shared commitment to ensure that British Columbians can access the education and training they need to improve their lives, and get the education and training they need to be ready for job opportunities.
Why It Matters:
- The 2025 Labour Market Outlook forecasts almost one million jobs to 2025.
- Eight out of 10 of the estimated one million job openings to 2025 will require post-secondary education.
- A post-secondary education offers a great return on investment whether it is a diploma, trade or degree. For example, British Columbians with an undergraduate post-secondary degree can expect to earn an additional $827,000 over their lifetime.
Quote:
Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson –
“A post-secondary education is one of the most important investments an individual will make in their lifetime and it provides a great return that includes higher earning potential. The Ministry of Advanced Education is working to connect B.C. students with the information they need to make informed decisions about post-secondary education so they can take steps on the path to a better future.”
Quick Facts:
- B.C. has 25 public post-secondary institutions, including institutes, colleges and universities.
- More than 426,000 students are enrolled in at least one course at one of the 25 institutions.
Learn More:
- http://educationplannerbc.ca/
- B.C. 2025 Labour Market Outlook: https://www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Industry/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx
- Post-secondary education in B.C. factsheet: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/the-facts-on-the-post-secondary-education-system-in-british-columbia
