About 18 per cent of Sask Polytech graduates completed a degree first. Perhaps they should have started at Sask Polytech in the first place?
As the president and CEO of Saskatchewan’s primary institution for post-secondary applied education and research and its only polytechnic, I’m proud of the role Saskatchewan Polytechnic plays in the education of learners at all levels throughout the province.
This past academic year, more than 4,600 students graduated from Sask Polytech. The number of distinct students who attend our institution for a program or course reached its highest level in over 13 years.
Ninety-six per cent of Sask Polytech’s graduates found employment in the period beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022. This is the highest it has been in 20 years, increasing from 94 per cent the previous year.
Our Indigenous graduate employment rate rose to 94 per cent this year from 86 per cent. This is significant because it speaks to our connection to Indigenous communities and our commitment to Reconciliation.
Not surprisingly, 92 per cent of employers say they would hire a Sask Polytech graduate again.
Another big advantage of a Sask Polytech education is an emphasis on experiential learning. Engaging students in work co-ops and other on-the-job training allows them to enter the job market with the skills and confidence to contribute on Day One. In a labour market as tight as the current one, employers want such graduates.
Among the most common fields of study were registered nursing specializations and allied health diagnostic, intervention and treatment professions (for example, paramedic and respiratory care therapist).
That more Canadians with degrees are going back to school also indicates the reality of the times. Jobs and the nature of work are being transformed. Reskilling/upskilling is a wonderful way to further one’s career, particularly with a credential in a high-demand area such as health care.
According to the 2021 Provincial Graduate Outcome Survey, about 18 per cent of Sask Polytech graduates indicated that they had completed a degree before attending the institution. And while we are more than happy and willing to welcome them into our programs, it does raise a question.
Perhaps they should have started at Sask Polytech in the first place?
Larry Rosia is the CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
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