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St. Clair College President Patti France hailed the news Monday that the Ontario government has given approval for colleges to develop three-year degree programs.
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“This is tremendous news for students, employers and our community,” France said in a media release. “It will create a wealth of new career opportunities for students and will be pivotal to Ontario’s economic renewal.”
The college’s media release stated that three-year degree programs are “a historic breakthrough that ensures more students will acquire the professional expertise to succeed in their careers.”
“This is a truly historic improvement to post-secondary education,” France said. “It builds on our tremendous success and will encourage more students to enroll in programs that lead to rewarding careers.”
The announcement was made by Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop at Conestoga College in Kitchener.
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It’s expected that expanding degree programs at colleges will help fulfill growing demand among employers for graduates with highly specialized qualifications in sectors such as the electric vehicle industry.
This move could benefit companies that promote themselves and their workforce internationally, as most jurisdictions outside Ontario aren’t familiar with the diploma credential.
“Degree holders enjoy more opportunities in our global manufacturing world,” said Guido Benvenuto, the vice president of engineering at Flex-N-Gate, a Windsor supplier to the global automotive sector. “This will make a significant difference in our sector.”