Whereas the availability of post-secondary education is a critical piece in strengthening the fabric of small, rural communities as it allows residents to acquire further education and skills, without having to relocate and increases the community capacity for economic resilience and growth; And whereas, local government, in partnership with local First Nations, is most aware of local needs and is in the best position to determine the most appropriate post-secondary provider: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to work in partnership with local governments and First Nations to ensure that post-secondary education providers offer courses and programs that best meet the needs of all local residents.
Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training The Ministry recognizes that public post-secondary institutions are an integral part of regional economic development. This role will only be amplified during COVID-19 economic recovery. Decisions made by post-secondary institutions about course or program offerings need to take regional human resource and labour market needs into consideration. The Ministry encourages local governments, First Nations, and employers to collaborate and work with post-secondary institutions to identify regional training needs and opportunities and to inform educational program planning processes. Post-secondary institutions have staff and advisory structures in place to support this important input. Ministry policy allows Indigenous communities and institutes to choose the public post-secondary institution they wish to partner with, regardless of geographic location, to deliver programming in an Indigenous community or at an Indigenous post-secondary institute. Aside from encouraging the post-secondary institution selected by an Indigenous community to advise the local public post-secondary institution of the planned program delivery as a courtesy, there is no requirement to consult with the local public post-secondary institution before agreeing to provide a program, nor is there an approval role for the local public post-secondary institution. The Ministry encourages and supports post-secondary providers to establish partnerships with local governments and Indigenous communities to identify local educational training needs and provide training opportunities. Many public post-secondary institutions have Indigenous Advisory councils that can act as a mechanism for input and partnership. Working with Indigenous communities on possible solutions is an approach that reflects the Ministrys commitments to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action and the relevant articles in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.