Dr. Adrienne Galway, Executive Director of the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was joined by Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, and Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO of Humber College, to announce 39 new projects focused on supporting postsecondary learner mobility.
Over the next year, ONCAT is flowing over $2.8 million to support learner mobility projects at 35 colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario. These projects aim to empower learners by recognizing previous education and professional experiences and facilitating smoother transitions between programs and institutions.
At Fleming College, this funding supports the Prior Learning and Assessment Recognition (PLAR) Project, with a $134,000 grant.
PLAR is a systemic credit granting process that helps identify and document relevant knowledge and skills which may come from areas outside the academic scope. This could include formal and informal study, work and even relevant life experience. This is then assessed, and a course credit can be granted for a particular program. This project will help provide greater access to higher education for a variety of individuals, including disadvantaged or marginalized groups.
"Empowering learners with accessible pathways to navigate their educational journey is key to helping them achieve their professional and academic goals," said Dr. Galway. "The increased funding will promote improved transitions between institutions and programs, helping learners get where they want to go."
"The Ontario government is proud to support ONCAT's important work to make it easier for learners of all backgrounds to pursue their educational goals," said Minister Jill Dunlop. "By facilitating smoother transitions and recognizing the wealth of knowledge gained through previous experience, we are fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment to advance student success in Ontario."
"By recognizing someone's valuable life experience and earned knowledge, we are helping PLAR students realize their dreams and career ambitions," Fleming College President Maureen Adamson said. "This funding will help save PLAR students time, money and put them on the fast track to getting a diploma and a job."
In Fall of 2023, ONCAT initiated calls for projects for greater accessibility and impact within the postsecondary sector. This call was met with an unprecedented number of applications from postsecondary institutions, demonstrating a growing interest to support greater learner mobility, expand access to postsecondary opportunities and improve pathways to the labour market.
Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer plays a pivotal role in supporting learner mobility, working to reduce barriers for students seeking to transfer among the province's public colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes.
For more information, visit www.oncat.ca. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario.
