¼â½ÐÊÓƵ

by Maria Driscoll

The Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ Board of Governors has approved the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s Strategic Plan for 2004-2005 including a number of goals and priorities for the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ in the year ahead.

"On Prince Edward Island, Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ is a key participant in the post secondary education and training sector. It is a vital participant in the local labour market and is the primary provider of occupation-specific training in the province," commented Alex MacAulay, President of Holland ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ. "With this in mind, the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s goals and priorities for 04/05 will focus on program quality, student success, labour market needs and financial growth."

¼â½ÐÊÓƵ priorities include:

Expansion of the successful high school transitions program;
Continued development of ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ programs achieving certification and national accreditation, expansion of articulation and joint program offerings with the university community and pending provincial approval, continued development of Applied Degree programs in those areas identified by industry as requiring advanced training - culinary, justice and health;
Increased international recruitment activities including a comprehensive strategy for ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ development in this key growth area;
Continued development of the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s applied research capacity;
Examination of the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s role in the delivery of technical programming potential in the growing bio-resources sector;
The introduction of a new Sport and Recreation Department which will focus on three key activities: developing post secondary programs related to population wellness; enhancing the overall quality of student and staff life; and promoting wellness across the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ community.Over the past ten years the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ has been engaged in a comprehensive facility enhancement plan. Part of that process will see the closure of the Summerside Centre at the end of June, 2004. MacAulay stated that program quality is the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s number one priority. For ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ students to receive the best education and training possible, the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ has to ensure that its students have the best of technology in state of-the-art facilities made available to them. To achieve this, the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ has enhanced some of its existing facilities or if required, new facilities have been constructed.

"In the last year, the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ has made significant investments, approximately $13M, in facilities and program expansion at the Marine Training Centre in Summerside and the Atlantic Police Academy in Slemon Park," commented MacAulay. "Last year, over 2,000 students participated in training activities at the Marine Centre. The expected ongoing economic impact on the City from the Marine Centre alone will be in excess of $2,000,000 annually." As it does in the Eastern end of the Island with Centres in Georgetown, Montague, and Souris, MacAulay added that the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ will continue to have a presence in West Prince. The West Prince Career Enhancement program is ongoing and discussions with the community are taking place as to the development of a community-based training model for the Practical Nursing program.

In 2004/2005 the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ will develop a proposal for a new facility to be located in proximity to the Charlottetown Centre. This new facility will be the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s flagship for training and related services and will offer learners and employers access to state of-the-art technology and training settings, both on its premises and through partnerships with leading business innovators. The facility will develop and expand the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s focus on e-learning. It will also include an expanded and modern library to support the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵ?s initiatives in applied research and applied degrees and it will serve as a gathering space for speakers, presentations and events.