Camosun College will receive more than $331,000 in provincial funding for two innovation pilots that will improve training outcomes and employability for apprentices.
The first pilot, receiving funding of $166,300, sees the conversion of the Level 1 apprentice curriculum for the pipe trades (plumber, steam/pipefitter, sprinkler-fitter and gasfitter) into a blended, two-phase program consisting of an online theory component and a face-to-face practical component.
The program reduces on-site training from six weeks to three weeks, and adds four months of access to an online curriculum.
The second pilot, receiving funding of $165,250, delivers training for professional cook Level 3 consisting of both online and in-class learning. The pilot reduces online training from six weeks to six days, and adds six months of access to an online curriculum. All three levels of professional cook training will now be available online.
“Camosun is excited to deliver e-pprentice online training options to those students pursuing careers in the pipe trades and professional cooking,” said Eric Sehn, dean of Camosun’s School of Trades and Technology.
“This type of online education model makes these trades programs a very attractive and sustainable training option for apprentices in various economic, geographic and employment situations.”
In 2015, the Industry Training Authority (ITA) held regional innovation forums and a provincial conference to bring training providers and industry together to discuss ways to promote more innovation in B.C.’s trades training system. The ITA invited B.C. post-secondary institutions to submit innovation pilot proposals.
“Our goal is to provide world-class apprenticeships for British Columbians and the innovation pilots put trades training in this province ahead of the curve in a very unique way, said Gary Herman, CEO of the Industry Training Authority.
“We are excited to launch these pilots and anticipate great results and ideas, which we will build upon in the future to ensure that B.C.’s trades training is responsive and relevant to the changing needs of industry.”
The purpose of the innovation pilots is to test and evaluate novel methods of delivering trades training programs that result in better outcomes for apprentices and their employer sponsors.
Through the pilots, the ITA will promote new ways of delivering training programs to enhance apprentices’ training experiences and enable them to be more effective on the job and better meet industry’s needs.