Ottawa, October 25, 2017 – Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is pleased to announce that 17 member institutions have begun working on the new Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP). The selected institutions will work with partners to provide increased economic opportunities for new graduates from technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions in Kenya.
Canadian colleges and institutes will be involved in eight projects with their Kenyan counterparts that will focus on a variety of sectors, including civil engineering, agriculture, mechatronics and renewable energy.
The participating Canadian colleges and institutes are: Algonquin College, Bow Valley College, Camosun College, Cégep Saint‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu, Champlain College, Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick, College of the North Atlantic, College of the Rockies, Durham College, the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, Humber College, New Brunswick Community College, Nova Scotia Community College, Olds College, Selkirk College, Seneca and Vancouver Island university.
Based on CICan’s proven Education for Employment approach, KEFEP is a five-year initiative that is supported by the government of Canada and the Kenyan Ministry of Education. Its objective is to help Kenya improve its system of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) by working with national polytechnics across the country to develop new or enhanced competency-based programs. It is part of a broader effort by the Kenyan government and its partners to increase investments in peoples’ knowledge and skills, and in turn support economic growth.
Quotes:
“This project will help reduce income inequalities and youth unemployment in Kenya. 1,200 students are expected to graduate from the enhanced skills training programs, but more importantly, hundreds will continue to benefit and graduate each subsequent year. By providing them with new vocational skills for the job market, we can unlock the potential of Kenya’s youth and help ensure a more prosperous future for everyone,”
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.
“We are thrilled to see this promising new project take shape in Kenya. Canadian colleges and institutes have a unique expertise in post-secondary education that is based on hands-on learning and working directly with employers to identify their needs. I am confident that by working in close collaboration with our partners in Kenya, our members will have a lasting impact on the development of an employment-focused post-secondary education system.”
Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
-30-
For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Tel. : 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter : @CollegeCan