Improving trades training outcomes and employability for trades students and apprentices is the goal of a new program developed by Camosun College for delivery at Riverside College, thanks to $49,980 in funding from the province and the Industry Training Authority (ITA).
This plumbing foundation program consists of both classroom and online learning. The online component was developed by Camosun College in Victoria and is being delivered in partnership with Riverside College in Mission to 14 participants.
Camosun College has provided support to Riverside College in the following ways:
Supplied the plumber blended curriculum, particularly the online portion of the program.
Supported the Riverside College instructor, a Red Seal plumber, through the duration of the program.
Provided an opportunity for the Riverside instructor to work with Camosun College and observe its instructors to further develop skills in trades technical training delivery.
Included among the 14 participants are nine ITA Youth Train in Trades students in grades 10 to 12. Youth Train in Trades gives students the opportunity to get a head start on their technical trades training by attending a class at a local secondary school, a partner post-secondary institution or an ITA-certified training facility
Last fall the B.C. government announced five innovation pilots designed to test and evaluate novel methods of delivering trades training programs that result in better outcomes for apprentices and their employer sponsors.
This program at Riverside College is one of three additional programs funded by the B.C. government through the ITA to test innovative trades training practices.
Through these pilots and programs, the ITA is promoting new ways of delivering training models to enhance apprentices’ training experiences and enable them to be more effective on the job and better meet industry’s needs.
“Camosun College has been an incredible partner in the delivery of Riverside College’s pipe trade foundation program,” said Wade Peary, principal at Riverside.
“Olaf Nielsen and the Camosun team have ensured that we have been able to continue to build on a strong program and make our students even more valuable to their potential employers. The instructors from both institutions have met several times over the course of the year and have been able to collaborate on the delivery of the Camosun College plumbing curriculum.”
Open House:
Riverside College is holding an Open House on Wednesday, April 12 from 3-8 p.m. The public is invited to see what the college is all about. It is located at 33919 Dewdney Trunk Road in Mission.
