Like all things, post-secondary institutions must be in a constant state of change, growth and modernization.
What worked yesterday may not be sufficient for today or tomorrow.
Many still focus on the traditional streams in post-secondary education – either theory-based education in university, high-level skills training at college, or apprenticeship.
But that division is no longer so cut and dried, especially in a post-pandemic skills economy. The world of work and what it means to be successful in it has undoubtedly changed forever.
Real-world-tested and leadership-ready graduates are what employers are looking for, with high levels of theory combined with practical skills and experience.
Why? Because competitive, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations alike need credentials and skills that can be put to work on day one.
Colleges are uniquely positioned to deliver. Our diplomas and graduate certificates have always provided those skills. For several decades, though, colleges in Ontario have also been offering baccalaureate (Bachelor) degree programs as part of their programming mix, combining the benefits of a traditional university degree experience with the applied learning that employers are looking for.
Cambrian is no exception. Driven by our new strategic plan, Further Together, Cambrian has been on a path to become a college of choice for students throughout Northern Ontario, across the country and around the world.
And now we are taking it to the next level.
Just this month, Cambrian welcomed our first-ever cohort of students into our Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program. It is the equivalent of a university nursing degree, with greater emphasis on hands-on practical training that is incorporated into the curriculum. Advanced theoretical knowledge is paired with real-world experience.
That same approach is built right into the new Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) – Northern Ontario’s first of its kind, starting fall 2023.
Just like our nursing program, business degree students at Cambrian will benefit from the best of both worlds: theory combined with applied learning opportunities. It will include both an internship (co-op) as well as a final capstone project to ensure students have access to resume-building experiences with prospective employers even before graduation.
Further, in extensive degree planning consultations with our partners in business and community, we heard loud and clear that diversity and flexibility are key – and that’s why students can choose a major in one of three areas of specialization (Accounting, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing) or opt for a General Business Administration degree. This means students will be able to choose their own ideal path, with the flexibility to move between majors as interests emerge and skills are honed.
More so, the analytics and marketing majors are unique in the North and will help graduates fill emerging high-tech, data-driven positions. And even better, graduates from Business and Accounting diploma programs in Ontario who wish to complete a business degree are eligible to receive advanced standing and enter the program in year three. Accounting majors in the BBA program can also pursue their Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation upon completion.
Graduates will leave with the competitive advantage of a degree, and the experience, training and readiness that comes with a traditional college education. And they’ll enjoy the supportive and welcoming student experience that Cambrian is known for.
You can learn more about our new BBA program at CambrianCollege.ca/business/degree.
And there’s so much more to come.
Whether it is through micro-credentials, new four-year degree options, or even three-year degrees in the future, Cambrian is focused on responding to the needs of employers, graduates, and the communities that we serve across the North and around the world.
This is a significant development for Cambrian and our community. We invite you – prospective students, parents, employers and community leaders – to share this exciting opportunity, explore enrolment for fall 2023, and look out for our inaugural BBA graduating class, because they’ll be ready to contribute from day one.
Bill Best is the president and CEO of Cambrian College.
