Richard Froese
South Peace News
Northern Lakes College has joined four other northern Alberta post-secondary institutions to strengthen educational opportunities.
Northwestern Polytechnic, Portage College, Lakeland College, Keyano College and Northern Lakes signed a memorandum of understanding March 14 to broaden education pathways in northwestern Alberta, says a joint news release.
NLC president Glenn Mitchell says the agreement benefits all colleges, students and the communities they serve.
“This collaboration will increase accessibility to educational opportunities for our students and communities,” Mitchell says.
“By working together, we can create seamless pathways that empower learners to pursue their goals without leaving their home communities.
“Northern Lakes College looks forward to expanding programming and strengthening community connections that support student success and regional workforce development.”
Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawheny says the partnership strengthens the region and the province.
“Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring students in every part of the province have the opportunities to succeed,” Sawheny says.
“The MOU marks a significant step towards greater possibilities for students in northern Alberta.”
The agreement fosters strategic collaboration between the colleges and polytechnic to ensure student access, mobility, and learner outcomes.
An historic milestone, it marks the first official post-secondary partnership of its kind in northern Alberta and will offer a strengthened skills- and-training approach that stretches 700 km east to west from Lloydminster to Grande Prairie, about 560 km north to south from Fort McMurray to Vermilion and everywhere in- between.
The MOU is the first step in formalizing transfer agreements and credential recognition between the institutions, which collectively have 34 distinctive campuses across the north.