EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Responding to needs of students and local industry, for more than four decades, North West College (NWC) delivers training and services to facilitate the growth of the communities it serves. The College is responsive to regional labour market demands and aligns the educational programming it offers to ensure continued social and economic development. This translates to the College being a respected educational provider offering a range of programs and services that extend from workplace readiness training to graduate programs in education. NWC embraces its mission to enhance the wellbeing of the communities it serves. North West College has also been a leader in the provision of student services and in linking students to employment. Our strong labour force engagement strategy prepares students to build skills sought by employers, obtain practical workplace experience, make sound career choices, and assist in a smooth transition to employment. An annual needs assessment process aims to have contact with all major employers annually. A business survey conducted in March 2022 solicited input from employers regarding training needs, trends, and challenges. One of the College’s focal areas has been the provision of health care education. Psychiatric Nursing has been the latest addition to the complement of health programming in North Battleford. With three cohorts of Psychiatric Nurses migrating through their 2.5 year program, and with NWC’s Practical Nursing students, Continuing Care Assistants, visiting nursing students from University of Regina/Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s collaborative program, plus Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s cohort of Psychiatric Nurses in year two and year three, all vying for use of the bed lab and classroom space, the Battlefords Campus has exceeded its capacity. The Provincial budget released on March 23rd, 2022 provided a necessary investment for an expansion and upgrading of the health science bed lab at Battlefords Campus. In order to ensure a high quality educational experience in this lab, the College will need to seek community support or further funding to equip the space. A new campus is critical to the continued success and growth of North West College. Available space for programming has been maximized, and without appropriate space available to lease in the community NWC continues to advocate for a new campus in the Battlefords. The most recent strategic planning process reaffirmed the need for a new building. This new strategic plan ensures the College is on track to meet the needs of business and industry, and to meet the strong demand for skilled staff. In the absence of this urgently needed campus, meeting industry/labor market needs is extremely challenging. There is alignment with Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan 2020-30 through emerging priorities such as the advent of an international student program, a renewed commitment to training needs assessment activities with regional business and industry, and trades training to support the province’s goal of increased manufacturing output. Meadow Lake Campus provides a variety of trades programming each year including a partnership with SIIT’s Process Operator Technician program. Graduates of these trades programs are readily employed by the forestry mills in the region. NWC is investing in the Ministry of Advanced Education’s international education strategy; a new initiative is underway to expand student recruitment. The first cohorts of international students are expected to begin their studies on the Meadow Lake and Battlefords Campuses in September 2022. After completion of their diploma programs, they can apply for a three-year work visa and it is hoped they will work towards citizenship and help alleviate local labour demands and enrich our communities. NWC’s international strategy will support both our sustainability and diversity goals.
NORTH WEST COLLEGE
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MULTI YEAR BUSINESS PLAN 2022-2025
