St. Lawrence College is receiving some provincial support to help provide students with better access to online learning opportunities.
Ontario has announced it’s supporting multiple innovative virtual learning projects at the college as part of the province’s Virtual Learning Strategy which was announced in December.
MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Steve Clark says the province’s economic recovery from the pandemic will be driven by innovation and by equipping the future workforce with the tools they need to succeed.
“These are cutting edge programs that are going to be offered,” Clark said. “It’s part of our government’s commitment to provide more training opportunities for young people in Ontario.”
In partnership with Mohawk College, St. Lawrence will receive $48,400 to create a virtual reality assessment report.
St. Lawrence President Glenn Vollebregt says this will directly benefit students by allowing them the opportunity to make their skills and competencies visible to employers.
“This is just one of the ways SLC and Ontario’s colleges are responding to what is needed by employers and industry, and this funding will help us continue to work with strategic partners to remain competitive and equip our students to succeed,” Vollebregt said.
The project supports key priority areas including creating or adapting digital content, equipping faculty and students with skills and resources to teach and learn online, and identifying educational technologies to support online courses and programs.
Clark says this move shows Ontario’s willingness to adapt program platforms and content for today’s digital environment.
“It promotes flexibility and portability of the learning experience, and it also gives an increased speed in their certification process,” Clark said.
Clark adds that the Virtual Learning Strategy is aimed at creating a platform that will allow all post-secondary institutions to compete in the new and necessary environment of learning from home.
The province is investing more than $70 million to implement the strategy – including $21.4 million announced in the 2021 Ontario Budget.