Deal helps northern college students continue studies in the South

If you’re studying at Nunavut Arctic College, but want to continue your studies at a university in the South, you’ll find it much easier now.

A memorandum of understanding signed April 25 in Yellowknife between Yukon, Aurora and Nunavut Arctic Colleges and Dalhousie University, University of Laval, University of Alberta and University of Ottawa will let students transfer their credits from the colleges to the universities.

The five-year agreement, signed in the legislative assembly of the Northwest Territories, also calls for exchange programs and joint research ventures in the North.

“Nunavut Arctic College is proud to work together with our partner universities, to establish more post-secondary opportunities for our students and faculty members,” said Linda Pemik, director of academic affairs for Nunavut Arctic College. “With the number of high school students increasing every year, we are proud to re-affirm our commitment to providing our students with the education and training needed to realize their educational goals and career aspirations.”

The seven post-secondary institutions plan to:

• work collaboratively on program development and delivery;

• increase the number and range of course offered in the three northern colleges that are transferable to the universities;

• expand opportunities for degree completion at the three northern colleges;

• develop opportunities for student exchanges between the three northern colleges and the universities;and,

• look at ways to diminish transition challenges faced by students from the three northern colleges travelling to study at the universities and for students going north.