VICTORIA – New Democrat MLAs Jennifer Rice and Nathan Cullen says people in the northwest will be able to re-skill or upskill to prepare for in-demand jobs, thanks to a new micro-credential program being offered through Coast Mountain College (CMC). The course is part of B.C.’s economic recovery efforts to help more people find their place in the post-COVID-19 economy.
“The impacts of COVID-19 mean that some people are looking for new opportunities in new careers in sectors like health care,” said Cullen, MLA for Stikine. “Supporting programs like these are one of the many ways we will help people get back on their feet while building up our local health care workforce. This is great news for the economy and our health care system.”
“With work, family, and other obligations, many people don’t have the option of going back to school for a long period of time to gain new skills or start out on a new career,” said Rice, MLA for North Coast. “Offering ‘micro-credentials’ like this program will give more people here in the northwest a chance to explore new careers in a flexible way that works for them.”
Micro-credentials are short courses that help people gain specific skills for high-demand careers. The short duration makes it easier for people to fit in learning around their work and family commitments.
A new micro-credential course, “Exploring Health Careers” is being offered at Coast Mountain College. The new course is one of 24 new micro-credential programs being offered at 15 of B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions, supported by a total investment of $4 million ($2 million from the Province and $2 million from the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement).
The MLAs say people whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19 will particularly benefit from these opportunities, designed to help them upskill in their current field or reskill to embark on a new career path.
This announcement is in addition to new Short-term Skills Training courses to be offered through CMC, Aspect Safety Inc., and the Kyah Wiget Education Society online and in-person in different locations around the northwest. These include courses in areas from hospitality to construction safety, and are designed to meet the needs of people who lost their jobs due to COVID-19, particularly youth, women, and low-skilled individuals.
These investments are part of B.C.’s Economic Recovery Plan, to help people, businesses and communities recover and come out of COVID-19 stronger and better prepared. B.C.’s total provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic exceeds $8.25 billion.
Learn more about micro-credentials: https://news.gov.bc.ca/23745
Learn more about Short-term Skills Training: https://news.gov.bc.ca/23731