ST. PAUL – During the Town of St. Paul council meeting on May 27, delegates from Portage College updated council on the college’s growth in recent years.
Speaking specifically to the St. Paul campus, growth includes the addition of new programs in response to local challenges noted by various sectors, such as information technology and education.
“As an institution, we have been obviously trying to connect as much as possible with our community partners. And a lot of what we've been hearing is this real challenge with teacher shortages and a real need for local education programming,” says Don Moore, associate vice president academic.
Education
Moore says St. Paul Education has spoken out about challenges around hiring teachers. “And really, the desire to have some rural-trained individuals who are from the community, [who] get their training in the community... and are more likely to stay in their communities.”
Portage College hopes to launch its own Bachelor of Education program to help address the challenge. “I’ll be transparent. It’s a rather arduous task for us... but we have begun the process,” says Moore. Initially, the focus will be on elementary education.
“It’s a bit of more of a generalist program, then [we’ll] eventually look at maybe some high school programming,” or trades teacher education programming, Moore says, listing examples.
Portage is hoping to have the program approved by Fall 2026.
Computer programming and technology
Portage College also launched an online computer programming and information technology certificate last year, with many learners based in the St. Paul area. “The first year has been fantastic, [and the] second year [of running the program] is continuing to show some great enrolments,” says Moore.
“We are looking at expanding that to a two-year diploma as well, which will allow folks to continue with their programming,” Moore says, explaining that tech-based businesses like MCSNet are expressing challenges with recruitment.
“Some companies are having to go out of country just to hire entry-level IT professionals, so let’s see if we can just train them locally here,” explains Moore. They hope to have the diploma program begin in the Fall of 2025.
Kinesiology and Sports Studies
“Fall of 2025 is going to be a big year for us,” adds Moore, as the college is also looking to launch its Kinesiology and Sports Studies program at that time. The program includes a focus on sports, medicine, and personal training.
Moore says they are seeing a growth in the sector.
Tourism and hospitality
Portage College will also be launching its tourism and hospitality program at the St. Paul campus in the winter of 2025. The program offers either a certificate or a diploma upon completion.
“That one has definitely a local focus, as well as an international focus,” says Moore.
“We’re just hearing that need for hospitality and tourism-related programming,” and Moore says they believe the St. Paul campus would be the best place to start offering the program.
“[We are] just working on some curriculum updates for a launch on that one, but we are definitely hearing there’s a great deal of demand in the tourism and hospitality sector.”
Mayor Maureen Miller expressed her excitement about the future, stating the provincial government identified the Lakeland region as one of the next regions they hope to develop for tourism.
The region has many things to offer, says the mayor, acknowledging that more work needs to be done.
“We love it, and we use it, but we don’t work at it,” says Miller. “We don’t market our region.”
More offerings
Portage College is also restarting its Steamfitter-Pipefitter program this fall, which would allow the college to train plumbers, sprinkler system installers, gas fitters and more, according to Moore.
The program will be delivered in a blended format - both offline and online - with the idea that this will increase its appeal in the general community.
There also continues to be a challenge in the healthcare sector, acknowledges Moore. So, the college also recently expanded their paramedic program.
Partnerships
Moore says they also expect to continue their partnership with St. Paul Education. He said Portage College is running a dual-credit program with the division, allowing high school students to gain credit in programs related to trades, for example.
The college also created several degree partnerships with post-secondary institutions like Athabasca University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary, increasing growth in university studies programming at all its campuses.
International students
Edna Gervais, community liaison and program support at the St. Paul campus, also informed council that several international students are coming to the St. Paul community this fall.
A townhall is set for June 25 to allow the public to gain some information about what will be happening.
“We do think that it is very important to have this cultural awareness in the community... to be respectful,” says Gervais. More information will be released to the public soon.
One of the topics will be housing. “We are looking for accommodation right now, and we are wanting to make sure that they can secure at least a part-time employment during their studies,” says Gervais.
She hopes the community will welcome the new students.
