CENTRAL AND NORTHERN ONTARIO
Lakehead and Georgian announce new direction for partnership, more options for students

Georgian College and Lakehead University have announced a new focus for their collaborative partnership that will continue to expand postsecondary education opportunities for students in Central and Northern Ontario.

Starting in 2025, graduates from Georgian diploma programs will be guaranteed admission to select Lakehead undergraduate degree programs in Orillia and Thunder Bay through 30+ academic transfer pathways, allowing students to seamlessly transition between the two institutions to achieve their academic and career goals. 

"The partnership between Georgian and Lakehead is a great example of local innovation for the benefit of students and our local economy," said Kevin Weaver, President and CEO of Georgian College. "Over the last seven years, 230 Georgian students have followed a transfer pathway to a Lakehead degree. This is in addition to the 550 students who have been enrolled in our combined degree-diploma programs. We believe this is the best and most sustainable way forward for our institutions and puts students first." 

Since establishing the Lakehead-Georgian partnership in 2016, Lakehead and Georgian have expanded direct pathways from diplomas to degrees in academic areas such as computer science, criminology, applied life sciences, kinesiology, and outdoor recreation, parks and tourism. These 30+ pathways will now offer guaranteed admission for Georgian graduates, reducing the stress of securing a spot in eligible programs, provided they meet the required admission requirements.  

"Postsecondary education has evolved since the Lakehead-Georgian partnership began to take shape over a decade ago," explained Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University. "Transfer agreements between universities and colleges are increasingly common and easier to navigate than ever before as we work to reduce barriers for students seeking to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals." 

Over the next four years, the partnership will phase out the delivery of its four combined degree-diploma programs and shift its focus to adding new academic pathways that allow students to seamlessly transfer between the two institutions - ultimately providing students with more options and the added security of guaranteed admissions to meet their individual goals. The last intake of students to the combined degree-diploma programs was the fall 2024 semester.  

"This partnership began with a vision to address the gap in the labour force with the introduction of focused degree-level STEM programming and that remains our commitment," Weaver explained. "Although we are changing the way that we deliver education, future students still have access to the same degree and diploma programming, and local industry and employers still have access to the same highly educated talent."  

Siddall added the two institutions remain committed to accessibility for students. "As postsecondary partners, our objective is to constantly evolve to meet the growing needs of students in the region we serve. This news is great for students - more pathways between our institutions will allow more students to benefit from a well-rounded education by tapping into the best of what both a college and university can offer."    

Georgian College and Lakehead University remain economic drivers within the County of Simcoe and beyond. The impact of Georgian College in its seven-campus catchment area is roughly $1.7 billion, approximately 5.3 per cent of the total gross regional product. Lakehead's Orillia campus has an impact of more than $246 million in the County of Simcoe. With an astonishing track record of helping graduates enter the workforce, often locally, 90.3% of Georgian graduates find employment within six months of graduation, and 97.4% of Lakehead graduates are employed within two years of completing their degrees.