Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announces the opening of seven new collegiate schools in Alberta. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta offering career-focused ‘collegiate’ programs at seven schools

Sep 3, 2024 | 1:39 PM

High school students in parts of Alberta will be able to get practical, career-focused education.

The Government of Alberta has announced that seven new collegiate schools will open across the province, starting in the 2024-25 school year.

Collegiates are operated by school authorities in partnership with post-secondary institutions.

Students are connected to enhanced career education and apprenticeship programming, experience off-campus education at post-secondaries, and gain post-secondary credits while in high school.

Three of the new collegiates are in Calgary and will run in partnership with Olds College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), Bow Valley College and the University of Calgary.

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The others are in Calmar, Coleman, Dunmore and Peace River/Grimshaw.

The collegiates will offer programming in science, aviation, technology, engineering, agriculture, business, information communications and the trades.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says he wants to ensure Alberta’s youths have clear pathways to pursue good-paying jobs and higher education.

“Career education is fundamental for supporting Alberta’s students as they transition into adulthood. Our commitment to expand collegiate programming across the province will help students build the skills and abilities they need to be successful after graduation and throughout post-secondary studies,” says Nicolaides.

The provincial budget provides $64.3 million over three years to support the new collegiate schools.

Five other collegiate schools have already opened since 2021, including:

• Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI), in partnership with Olds College & Red Deer Polytechnic
• Building Futures Collegiate School, in partnership with Northern Lakes College and Olds College
• Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute (SACI), in partnership with Lethbridge College
• STAND (ST&), in partnership with Bow Valley College
• STEM Collegiate, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)