The 2025-2028 Aurora College Mandate Agreement was released on February 13. This agreement between the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) and Aurora College sets the strategic direction over the next three years for Aurora College.
Transforming Aurora College to a polytechnic university is the overarching priority of this agreement. A polytechnic university will create new opportunities for students, strengthen our workforce, and drive economic growth. This agreement will guide the launch of the transformed institution in 2027.
Providing high-quality post-secondary education close to home is essential to building a strong, sustainable Northwest Territories. New programming, including plans to advance the first fully-developed degree program in the coming months, will guide this vision. Meanwhile, an institutional quality assurance process will soon begin to ensure the College's readiness to deliver and sustain high-quality degree programs.
Aurora College continues to create a dynamic learning, teaching, and research environment while strengthening its governance and arm's-length relationship with the GNWT. Partnerships continue to be reinforced to respond to local and regional needs, including supporting community learners through enhanced programming and access to post-secondary education in communities.
The shared strategic priorities of the 2025-2028 Aurora College Mandate Agreement include:
- Transform to a polytechnic university
- Strengthen governance
- Improve infrastructure
- Academic and research excellence
- Learning centred
- Enhance connections
- Organizational effectiveness
Supporting Indigenous students and building partnerships with Indigenous governments, communities, and stakeholders also remains central to this transformation. The Mandate Agreement reinforces Aurora College's areas of teaching and research specialization and establishes clear performance indicators and metrics linked to the Post-Secondary Education Accountability Framework to support evidence-based decision-making.
To read the complete mandate agreement, visit 2025-2028 Aurora College Mandate Agreement
Quotes
"This is a key moment for post-secondary education in the Northwest Territories. Aurora College put in place the tricameral governance system, positioning the College as an arm-length institution, and laid the foundations to transform to a polytechnic. I am confident that the 2025-2028 Agreement will be as important, setting the path towards launching a polytechnic university and create new opportunities for Northerners."
Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
"The 2025-2028 Mandate Agreement lays out the shared strategic priorities between Aurora College and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and creates a roadmap for Aurora College's activities and decisions during the 20th Legislative Assembly. The agreement reinforces the direction the College has been taking to transform into an effective, efficient, and sustainable polytechnic university that supports the needs of learners, communities, and the Northern labour market."
Joseph Handley, Chair, Aurora College Board of Governors
Quick Facts
- The requirement for an Aurora College Mandate Agreement is established in the Post-Secondary Education Act and the process for Aurora College is further defined in the Aurora College Act and the Aurora College Act Mandate Regulations.
- Members of the three bodies of the tricameral governance system (the Board of Governors, the Indigenous Knowledge Holders Council, and the Academic Council) were appointed during the last Mandate Agreement.
Related Links
For more information
P.O. Box 1320
Yellowknife Northwest Territories
Canada X1A 2L9
www.gov.nt.ca
