For the 43rd Parliament
Learn about your local college or institute
Canada’s colleges and institutes play a critical role in communities across the country, driving Canadian innovation and training a globally competitive workforce.
They work with industry and community organizations to train learners of all ages and backgrounds on campuses serving urban, rural, northern and remote communities across the country.
95% of Canadians and 86% of Indigenous people live within 50km of a college or institute campus or learning centre.
Did you know?
- Colleges and institutes serve as vital community hubs that work closely with employers through program advisory committees to help ensure skills training meets their needs.
- In 2017-2018 colleges and institutes worked with over 7300 partners on applied research projects, resulting in over 4400 concrete innovations, including new products, services, prototypes or processes.
- Canada’s extensive network of colleges and institutes generated over $191 billion in additional income to the national economy in 2014-15 and for every dollar spent on providing college and institute education, $5.40 is added in national income and social savings.
- Over 280, 000 international students held a valid permit to study at a college or institute in Canada in 2018.
- Demand for study permits to colleges and institutes has grown faster than for all other study levels (319% from 2014 to 2018) representing 44% of demand in 2018.
Want to learn more?
Serving your community: Colleges and Institutes
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Equipping Canadians to thrive in the face of disruption
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Canada’s colleges and institutes: your path to success!
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Advanced Skills for Employment
Canada’s colleges and institutes work in close collaboration with local employers to ensure that their graduates have the skills they need to hit the ground running in their new careers. They operate on the leading edge of today’s technological advances and are producing tomorrows innovators through hands-on work integrated learning opportunities and by matching skills with market needs.
Training for Inclusive Economic Growth
Long-term prosperity depends on providing Canadians with the education and skills needed to participate fully in our economy. This is a fundamental function of colleges and institutes whose employment focused approach to post-secondary education is also inspiring other countries around the world.
Innovation
Canada’s colleges and institutes play a lead role in strengthening regional capacity to innovate by undertaking applied research that leverages their strong connections to both industry and community partners.
Indigenous Education
Across Canada, colleges and institutes show their commitment to improving the lives of Indigenous peoples by providing a full range of culturally appropriate programs and support services, from essential skills upgrading to specialized indigenous education.
Environment & Climate Change
Creating a greener future is one of the most pressing issues of our time, requiring timely and innovative responses to new challenges. Colleges and institutes play an important role by providing the skills training and research capacity required to lead in a green economy.
Student Mobility
By providing opportunities for student mobility both between Canadian postsecondary institutions and international education partners, colleges and institutes help prepare students for the reality and challenges of a globalized world.
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is a nonpartisan organization that provides information to the public and advocates on behalf of its members across Canada. CICan is committed to working with all political parties and while we may have positions on specific issues we do not, nor will we, endorse specific parties or candidates.