NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA COLLEGE
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A collaboration between two Ontario public colleges is enhancing opportunities for students while addressing critical skill gaps in their local health-care sectors.
Niagara College and Mohawk College have recently signed an agreement that creates dedicated learner spaces in high-demand programs for their Pre-Health Sciences graduates. Thanks to the new agreement, a set number of graduates from each college’s Pre-Health Sciences programs will be able to access select high-demand programs which are not available at their institutions.
As part of the agreement, Mohawk College will reserve spaces for NC’s top Pre-Health Sciences graduates for several of its leading diploma programs including Cardiovascular Technology, Medical Radiation Sciences-Radiography, Medical Radiation Sciences-Ultrasonography, and Biotechnology. NC, in turn, will provide guaranteed admission consideration to its in-demand Dental Hygiene and Paramedic programs, with three spaces reserved annually for Mohawk’s top graduates. As both colleges develop and launch additional allied health programs the agreement can be expanded.
The focus of this new collaboration goes beyond academics; it ensures local impact by keeping talented students in their region throughout their programs and work placements. Where possible, work placements will be strategically located in each institution’s region and prepare students to meet the needs of their communities and address growing demands for skilled healthcare professionals.
“Our new collaborative agreement with Mohawk College is a win for students, a win for our colleges and a win for our communities,” said NC Vice-President Academic Fiona Allan. “This creative solution enables us to respond expeditiously to critical staffing needs in our local healthcare sector, while forging new pathways for our Pre-Health Sciences students into sought-after programs and careers.”
Allan also noted that the new agreement benefits NC’s Pre-Health Sciences graduates by enabling them to stay in the Niagara region.
“This collaboration gives our Pre-Health Sciences students exposure to diverse pathways to careers in healthcare while allowing them to live and work locally,” said Allan.
NC had been seeking ways to support Niagara Health’s need for diagnostic imaging employees; however, launching new programs at NC would take years. To help address labour market needs more quickly, NC met with Mohawk College to initiate the new agreement.
“The agreement with Niagara College shows how colleges can leverage each other’s strengths to address critical workforce needs in our communities,” said Cebert Adamson, Vice President Academic at Mohawk College. “This will help to address critical shortages in both communities while providing our Pre-Health Sciences students with more opportunities upon graduation from their program.”
The agreement with NC is part of a larger commitment by Mohawk College to strengthen workforce development in Hamilton and the surrounding communities. It is the latest in a series of moves that includes the college announcing this past summer that it was expanding into Burlington, where there is growing demand for talent in areas like healthcare.
News of the articulation agreement is being applauded by the health-care sector in Niagara and Hamilton.
“Niagara Health has strongly advocated for expanded medical imaging training opportunities, and we are delighted to have innovative partners answer our call for support. Programs like Medical Radiation Sciences and Cardiovascular Technology are critical for addressing the growing demand for skilled professionals in these fields,” said Simon Akinsulie, Executive Vice-President of Practice, Clinical Support and Chief Nursing Executive, Niagara Health.
“With healthcare systems across Ontario facing an ongoing shortage of skilled professionals, this partnership between Niagara College and Mohawk College is a timely and impactful solution. By creating clear pathways for students in our region to enter in-demand fields, they are helping build a stronger foundation to address the health human resource challenges in Niagara.”
“The Hamilton Paramedic Service, like many ambulance services provincially, has faced challenges related to recruitment and retention within the service,” added Hamilton Paramedic Service Chief Michael Sanderson. “We have been advocating for greater access to paramedic training locally and see this agreement as a step in the right direction and one that will help build a stronger talent pipeline for our service.”
To help meet the urgent demand for more registered nurses in Niagara and beyond, NC also welcomed the first class of students into its Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) degree program last fall. NC’s School of Allied Health and School of Nursing and PSW are located at its Welland Campus. Hands-on learning environments include a fully operational dental clinic, as well as state-of-the-art lab facilities.
To explore information about NC and Mohawk College pathways, please visit niagaracollege.ca/pathways and mohawkcollege.ca/pathways.
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