The document summarizes British Columbia's "Skills for Jobs Blueprint" which outlines the province's plan to ensure residents have the skills needed for future jobs. It describes redirecting funding to steer youth into high-demand careers and better aligning post-secondary education with industry needs. Public institutions will work closer with industry to make education more relevant, accessible and effective for the workplace. The blueprint's goals are to provide hands-on learning in K-12, shift post-secondary programs to match in-demand jobs, and strengthen industry partnerships for training and apprenticeships.

1. 2015 Information Note
Prepared For: Executive review
Date: April 20, 2015
Issue: Summary on the changing role of public post-secondary education in British Columbia in
the context of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: Re-engineering Education and Training.
Background: The Ministry of Advanced Education document, “BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: Re-
engineering Education and Training” outlines the ministry’s plan for ensuring that British Columbians
have the knowledge and skills required to successfully meet the workforce needs of industry over the
next ten years.
Analysis: The blueprint describes a series of changes in spending that is intended to draw youth onto
a path that will lead to future employment in high demand careers, to ensure that post-secondary
training is more effective and better aligns with current industry needs, and to build stronger
partnerships with industry and labour unions to help those on the worksite to improve their skills or
achieve certification.
The Blueprint describes changes in educational funding that should prompt public post-secondary
institutions and industry to make education and training more accessible, more effective and more
relevant to the needs of industry and today’s workplace. As well, the ministry will provide the future
and current student with industry focused funding for career path planning, hands on learning,
financial aid grants, loan forgiveness and relocation assistance.
Primary objectives of BC’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint:
1. A head-start to hands-on learning in our schools. Students in elementary, middle or high
school will get a better, earlier head-start to hands-on learning so they’ll be ready for the
workforce or more advanced training when they graduate.
2. A shift in education and training to better match with jobs in demand. For students in a
college, university, or an institute, or those thinking about attending, the ministry is better
matching training with jobs in demand and maximizing the spaces available to provide the
programs they need to compete successfully in the workforce.
3. A stronger partnership with industry and labour to deliver training and apprenticeships.
For those looking to move into or upward on the worksite, we’re building stronger partnerships
with community, industry and labour to better connect them with the on-the-job and classroom
training they’ll need to boost their skills or achieve certification.
Conclusion: Industry, public post-secondary institutions and students are moving to a new education
system that provides for more training, guidance and funding, focused on filling industry workforce
needs while increasing employee satisfaction and retention levels.
Contact: Rob.Church@shaw.ca 250-885-6605