Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer supports postsecondary learner mobility at City School
The Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) has announced 39 new projects focused on supporting postsecondary learner mobility, including a community collaboration with City School by Mohawk College.
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 City School by Mohawk College, this funding supports the following project:
The Community Learning Alliance (CLA) – This project will involve collaboration between City School by Mohawk College, nine community social service agencies, and three local employers. Through this partnership, learners receiving interpersonal and life skills training through partner agencies will be awarded a Mohawk College micro-credential. In addition, the time they spend in CLA programs can be credited towards the College Fundamentals Certificate program. ONCAT is contributing $75,000 to this project.
“Empowering learners with accessible pathways to navigate their educational journey is key to helping them achieve their professional and academic goals,” said ONCAT Executive Director Dr. Adrienne 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 of Colleges and Universities 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.”
“Mohawk College and City School are grateful for ONCAT’s support of The Community Learning Alliance,” said Jim Vanderveken, Dean of Mohawk College’s Centre for Community Partnerships & Experiential Learning. “Working closely together, this network of dedicated community agencies and forward-thinking employers has the potential to drastically improve the lives of people dealing with economic and social precarity in the Hamilton area.”
Partnering agencies include Eva Rothwell Centre, Goodwill, Hamilton Public Library, Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, Immigrants Working Centre, Mission Services, Wesley, YMCA, and YWCA. Employers committed to the project include Thrive Group, Walters Group, and the City of Hamilton.
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.