The University of Windsor, in partnership with the University of Ottawa, is pleased to announce a new initiative funded by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) that will help strengthen learner mobility and expand access to French-language learning opportunities across Ontario.
The funded project, Supporting the Transferability of French-Language Courses, will create and pilot administrative processes that enable the seamless acceptance of transfer credits from online French-language courses delivered by multiple universities. This work will help reduce barriers for learners seeking to continue or complete their studies across institutions while maintaining access to French-language education.
The initiative was included in a Feb. 3 announcement by the Honourable Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, that the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) is funding 27 projects across Ontario's publicly assisted postsecondary colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes.
"This initiative responds to a demonstrated need for additional French-language programming and positions the University of Windsor to better serve a growing population of French speakers and a workforce that increasingly requires bilingual skills," said Dr. Emmanuelle Richez, professor in the University of Windsor's Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
This initiative aligns with ONCAT's learner-focused mandate to support projects that streamline transfer pathways, improve credit recognition, and help learners navigate Ontario's postsecondary system.
Through this project, the University of Windsor and the University of Ottawa will collaborate to develop a model that can be scaled across additional programs, supporting students as they build academic credentials and strengthen bilingual employability across Ontario.
By improving transfer credit recognition processes for online French-language courses, the project is expected to support more flexible learning pathways and help students access educational opportunities that fit their goals, schedules and geographic needs.
"We are grateful for the Government of Ontario's investment, which will help reduce barriers and create more accessible, learner-centred opportunities in postsecondary education for our students in both official languages," said Dr. Cheryl Collier, University of Windsor Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic.
