Expanded partnership opens doors for Georgian College students at Lakehead University

Students work in a common space at Georgian College in Barrie, Ont. (CTV Barrie)

Students at Georgian College will have more opportunities to seamlessly transfer into degree programs at Lakehead University, with an expanded partnership between the two institutions.

The initiative guarantees Georgian graduates admission to select undergraduate programs at Lakehead's Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses through more than 30 academic transfer pathways.

This means students who complete a diploma at Georgian can continue their education by earning a degree at Lakehead without the worry of securing a spot in competitive programs, provided they meet the required admissions criteria.

"The partnership between Georgian and Lakehead is a great example of local innovation for the benefit of students and our local economy," said Kevin Weaver, president and CEO of Georgian College. "Over the last seven years, 230 Georgian students have followed a transfer pathway to a Lakehead degree. This is in addition to the 550 students enrolled in our combined degree-diploma programs. We believe this is the best and most sustainable way forward for our institutions and puts students first."

The partnership, which began in 2016, has already created direct pathways for students in fields like computer science, criminology, applied life sciences, and outdoor recreation.

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"Postsecondary education has evolved since the Lakehead-Georgian partnership began to take shape over a decade ago," explained Dr. Gillian Siddall, president and vice-chancellor of Lakehead University. "Transfer agreements between universities and colleges are increasingly common and easier to navigate than ever before as we work to reduce barriers for students seeking to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals."

One significant change is the phase-out of the combined degree-diploma programs that Georgian and Lakehead have offered in the past.

The last intake of students for those programs was this fall. Moving forward, officials say the focus will shift to ensuring students can easily transition between the two institutions.

"This partnership began with a vision to address the gap in the labour force with the introduction of focused degree-level STEM programming, and that remains our commitment," said Weaver. "Although we are changing the way that we deliver education, future students still have access to the same degree and diploma programming, and local industry and employers still have access to the same highly educated talent."

"This news is great for students. More pathways between our institutions will allow more students to benefit from a well-rounded education by tapping into the best of what both a college and university can offer," Siddall added.