BRITISH COLUMBIA
British Columbia Skills for Jobs Blueprint –
Pillar 3
LNG Corridor Skills and Careers Support (“Shoulder-Tappers”) (British Columbia)
British Columbia Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities
Foreign Qualifications Review of the LNG Sector
British Columbia Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities
PURPOSE: To encourage students to access targeted in-demand programs at postsecondary institutions with capacity to help meet British Columbia’s labour market needs now and in future.
MINISTRY
Ministry of Advanced Education, Government of British Columbia
DESCRIPTION
British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: Re-engineering Education and Training is designed to match the skills that British Columbia’s students acquire during their education and training programs with labour market requirements. The Strategy undertakes fundamental improvements to make education and training more effective and more relevant to the needs of industry and the workplace.
There are three pillars to the Blueprint:
• A head-start to hands-on learning in our schools – expand choices and supports for students in the K-12 system.
• A shift in education and training to better match with jobs in demand – encourage students to choose training that leads to high-demand jobs.
• A stronger partnership with industry and labour to deliver training and apprenticeships – target skills training to high-demand occupations, remove barriers, and increase the participation of industry and labour.
British Columbia’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: Re-Engineering Education and Training includes a commitment to realign student financial aid to support labour market needs and priorities. Student aid criteria is used to determine eligibility and financial need for students who are not yet apprenticed to an employer (sponsored) and are taking Foundation, pre-apprentice and Level 1 program training. These students do not qualify for the multiple funding supports that exist for apprentices; therefore, the British Columbia Access Grant for Labour Market Priorities helps fill this gap by reducing financial barriers to accessing training in high demand occupations for these students.
Eligible students can receive up to $16,400 in upfront grants and loan reduction. There are four program elements:
1. Relocation component
• Up to $4,000 for students who are required to move more than 100 kilometres to attend studies.
• Incentives for student mobility to fill vacant seats outside of the lower mainland.
• To date, $62,000 was issued to 25 students.
2. Tools component:
• A $500 grant is available to offset the cost for tools.
• To date, $240,000 was disbursed to 480 students.
3. Loan component:
• Up to $2,000 is available for students without dependants.
• Up to $5,400 is available for students with dependants,
• This Grant provides funding to repay British Columbia student loans.
• To date, 479 students have been identified as eligible with the disbursement of $1.5 million planned for 2015–16.
4. Unmet need component:
• Up to $6,500 may be provided to students who have received the funding maximum for StudentAid BC and have demonstrated additional need.
RESULTS
To date, 715 students have received $1.9 million in upfront grants.
FURTHER INFORMATION
New B.C. access grant for labour market priorities - StudentAidBC