Skills already in demand
Local employers can’t wait for the first students to graduate from new courses at two colleges in the province of Québec.
Staff participating in the new career-related education initiative in Québec will have no problems travelling between classes, since Collèges Laflèche and François-Xavier Garneau are “Cégeps,” Colleges of General and Vocational Education, where students over 16 can choose between the IB Diploma Programme and career-based programmes. For Pierre Michaud, the IB coordinator at Collèges Laflèche, this makes it an ideal base for their own programme, due to start in September.
“Here, we know each other already,” he says, “and that has made it easier to work together. We’re aware of the different cultures of teaching and learning associated with academic and technical education, and we wanted to create a programme which didn’t simply stick elements of each course together, like a collage. We wanted to give students both professional skills and academic excellence, but we also wanted to integrate IB principles and values across the whole programme. I’m confident we can do it.”
The programme, developed in close partnership with college François-Xavier Garneau, has already recruited more than 50 students. In the first year it will offer a choice of five specialist courses. Fashion design and marketing, hotel management and tourism will be based at Laflèche, while police technology and intervention strategies for youth crime will be taught at François- Xavier Garneau.
All students will follow a common core based on IB principles. It includes French A1 and English B, courses in critical thinking, ethics and multiculturalism, and sustainable development. Like their Oulu colleagues, students will be involved in an intercultural experience. In Québec this will take place through creativity, action, service (CAS), work experience or community service.
One element central to both projects is the enthusiasm of all involved. “A project like this is a challenge,” Michaud accepts, “but everybody is incredibly motivated.”
The colleges also wanted to see whether employers would be interested in the potential employees who would eventually graduate from the course.
“We sent questionnaires to various companies,” explains Michaud, “to see what they thought. They were extremely positive about the programme. There’s a real demand for people who can combine professional skills with the qualities listed in the IB learner profile.”
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All students will follow a common core based on IB principles.
"We wanted to give students both professional skills and academic excellence, but we also wanted to integrate IB principles and values across the whole programme. I’m confident we can do it."
Pierre Michaud, IB coordinator at Collèges Laflèche
