Assiniboine College takes bronze for Indigenous Education at global awards

Assiniboine College has been recognized for its national leadership in community-based program delivery with a bronze in Indigenous Education at the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) annual World Congress happening this week.

“I think the key to all of it is not just delivering training for the sake of training, but ensuring that the programming is meaningful to the opportunities within the region. Our graduation rates in the communities we serve is contributing overall to the college graduation rate, and the satisfaction and ongoing retention of those jobs is over 80 per cent now,” said Michael Cameron, Dean, Community Development at Assiniboine.

Assiniboine’s Community Development department focuses on place-based learning to advance Indigenous education and foster community growth throughout Manitoba. This team works in partnership with Indigenous organizations and Nations to address the gaps in educational attainment rates and employment that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Manitoba.

“Assiniboine brings innovative programs that are responsive to skills development, educational, and labour market needs to communities, fostering a holistic approach to education. Collaborating with Indigenous communities demonstrates Assiniboine’s commitment to advancing technical education in communities where access would be otherwise impossible,” said Jim Moore, Executive Director, Atoskiwin Training and Employment Centre(ATEC). ATEC is a key educational collaborator with Assiniboine, and operates out of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.

In 2022-23 Assiniboine offered programs in 34 different locations including rural, remote, and First Nations communities, with 56 per cent of Indigenous graduates representing students from programs delivered in a community-based setting. In the 2023 Graduate Follow-up Survey, 92 per cent of Indigenous graduates were employed within six months of graduating, with 97 per cent choosing to live and work in Manitoba after graduation.

“We’ve learned from all demographics that students can often learn better at home. Being able to, whenever we can, offer programs to community, that spans demographics – we are reducing one of the key pinch-points to the post-secondary journey, being that transition to a new community,” said Kris Desjarlais, Director, Indigenous Education, Assiniboine.

For the students who participate in community-based training, the success speaks for itself. Cher Taylor, a Sioux Valley Dakota Nation resident and three-time Assiniboine student first trained with the college more than 20 years ago as an Office Administration graduate. Since then she completed the Child Development Worker program and is now enrolled in Practical Nursing. She reflected on how important it was to learn near her home while caring for family members.

“It was family that drove me to take the Child Development Worker course in Sioux Valley. My thinking was that if I took the course I could work with children in the school system and help out with family, and now having the opportunity to do nursing close to home—I took nursing to expand on that.”

The WFCP Awards of Excellence were presented at the World Congress in Jamaica on September 25.

“I think this award shows that our team in Community Development should be very proud of their work and accomplishments,” said Kris Desjarlais, Director, Indigenous Education at Assiniboine. “Recognizing how essential community and nation-based programming is to Assiniboine College—I’m excited for them to be honoured in this way.”