Preparing our Students for the Green Economy and Society

Workforce Development BoardAGM

June 17th, 2010

Green jobs: a growing economyGreen jobs: a growing economy

Environmental & Resource Science/Studies (ERS)Trent University

One of Ontario’s oldest & biggest environment programs: 90+ courses• BA (Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies)• BSc (Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science)• BESS (Bachelor of Environmental Science/Studies)• BSc (Bachelor of Science in Environmental Chemistry)• BA & BSc in Indigenous Environmental Studies• BSc in Ecological Restoration (with Fleming)

A balanced program of science and policy - “Combining what we know with what we do”

Trent ERS: Where are our graduates?

• Environmental Officer, OME• Habitat Biologist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada• National Park Warden, Parks Canada• Research Assistant, Biodiversity Convention Office• Environmental Superintendent, Placer Dome Ltd.• Senior Environmental Scientist, Kodiak Environmental Ltd.• Policy Analyst, Alberta Environment

School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences (SENRS) – Fleming College

• 40+ years • Reputation with employers in the Environmental Sector• 24 programs • Over 70% of students come from outside of our region• Known for excellence in teaching and applied learning• Specialized labs• CAWT Applied Research

Program Mix

• Certificates ( 1 year) – Urban Forestry• Diplomas (2 years) – Environmental Technician• Advanced Diplomas( 3 years) – Ecosystem Management• Post-graduate ( 1 year) – GIS• Shorter duration/industry specific - geothermal, water well

technician, constructed wetlands etc

Graduate Employment

• Rate is increasing – the sector is ‘hot’• Recent first year survey - why students come to SENRS• Graduates are hiring graduates• Graduate employment opportunities are national in scope• Employment is varied – public and private, municipal and

federal

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION DIPLOMA/DEGREE PROGRAM

(Insert video here)

Ecological Restoration Program

• Partnership built of strengths of Trent and Fleming• Rationale based on LMI• 2+2 = greater than 4• Integrated diploma/degree outcomes• CUCC funding• 2008 first intake

ECO Canada & CEAC -- program accreditation

• What it is: Post-secondary institutions volunteer to have their environmental programs benchmarked against a national standard to obtain a 3rd party assessment of the quality of their program.

• Trent & Fleming identified as national pilot sites

Development of accreditation process

• Institutional criteria (people, facilities, etc.)

• National Occupational Standards

• Educational Criteria

7 accreditation criteria:• Mission & objectives• Faculty• Students• Physical/learning resources• Curriculum• Financial resources• Research & scholarly activity

=>

Steps to accreditation• August 2009: Application to Eco Canada• October 2009: Notification of selection for evaluation• November 2009-March 2010: Self-study process & report

preparation• April 2010: Site visits• May 2010: Completion of evaluation report• June 2010: Meeting of Canadian Environmental Accreditation

Commission for decision on evaluation

Benefits of accreditation• Increased enrolment in environmental programs• Framework for curriculum development• Facilitating education-to-work transition• Competitive advantage for graduates• Part of integrated effort linking post-secondary education &

green economy:CEAC Accredited

Programs => CECAB Certifiedindividuals =>

ProfessionalDevelopment

Sustainable Agriculture – the evolution of a new partnership

• Discussions begin between Trent and Fleming• Based on labour market data – local, regional and national• Fleming proposes a one year post graduate certificate• January 2011 start date• Includes co-operative education• Modularized delivery• Culminates with a student farm start business plan

Sustainable Agriculture & Food SystemsA new program for 2011: at Trent, and in Ontario• Honours BSc & Honours BA• Combining natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities• Responding to student interest & society demand• Building on Trent’s strengths in environmental science & food studies• A strategic focus for Trent: Centre for Knowledge in the Environment;

Biomaterials Research Program; Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture

Trent/Fleming Partnership significance

• History of Leadership• Innovation Cluster• GPAEDC – economic impact/ jobs• Institutional citizens of the region• Strategic partnerships – academic, research,

community engagement

Question and Answer

Thank you !!