Colleges in Manitoba might soon be able to offer four-year baccalaureate degree programs thanks to proposed amendments introduced to the Colleges Act and the College universitaire de Saint Boniface Act.

Does this change mean competition for universities? Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford says not to worry.

“The department went through thorough consultation with both the University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba to address their concerns,” McGifford said. “[The province] recognizes the complex education required for applied learning. Education needs to match the complexity of the skill and two years no longer allows students to be prepared to participate in a complex economy.”

McGifford said Manitoba colleges have been asking for authority to grant degrees since the NDP took power in 1999.

“ There was a great push from the industry. They love our programs and our graduates, but said they needed a higher level of education.

Colin Fast, communications co-ordinator for Red River College

Eager to jump on the new opportunity was Red River College, which is introducing a construction management program expected to launch January 2010. The program will initially accept 20 students annually, and will require five additional teachers.

“There was a great push from the industry,” explained Colin Fast, communications co-ordinator for Red River College. “They love our programs and our graduates, but said they needed a higher level of education.”

Under the amendments, proposed college degree programs would have to meet Council on Post Secondary Education (COPSE) requirements, such as not overlapping into university programs.

RRC is currently working with COPSE to determine the exact designation of the baccalaureate degree.

“The Council isn’t interested in creating duplicate programs,” Fast said.

“The kinds of programs we come up [with] will be different. There are gaps in the market and the degrees we’re creating will fulfill that need.”

Fast said that the only overlap that may occur is if the college looks at a nursing degree.

“We’re not interested in competing with universities and we certainly don’t want to be a university,” he added, saying that the program will still offer applied hands-on learning.

“Universities are not training students for a specific job,” Fast said. “You can major in English, but you can do a lot of things with that.”

The province has pledged $250,000 in support of the development of the degree, and Paul Charette, chair of Bird Construction, donated $50,000 to help with costs.

Meanwhile, the amendment has only been tabled and needs to go through a second and third reading in the legislature to be passed. McGifford said she hopes the amendment will be passed before the legislature rises on June 14.

Still, the change is nothing new in Canada. Currently Ontario, Alberta, BC and PEI allow colleges to offer degree programs.

Published in Volume 63, Number 27 of The Uniter (May 20, 2009)