Education institutions to sign Articulation Agreement for Business program
- EFN Staff | November 18, 2015
First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv), the University of Regina (U of R) and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) have signed an agreement that will allow students who hold an SIIT business diploma to transfer credits from that program to FNUniv and to complete their Bachelor of Administration degree in two years. This articulation agreement will create a clear path for diploma graduates to continue their education at the university level, and will increase the number of First Nations business graduates in the province.
Dr. Mark Dockstator, FNUniv President, notes that this agreement is a model for how cooperation among Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions can help to support the aspirations of First Nations people to gain higher credentials and take up leadership roles in the province. “Providing access to post-secondary programming that leads to successful employment for First Nations graduates is part of FNUniv’s strategic mandate. When we work in collaboration with other institutional partners in the province, we can offer more educational opportunities that benefit Indigenous students.”
also saw significant benefits for First Nations students. “It’s been predicted that by 2032 First Nations people will make up 30 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population,” Bellegarde said. “These young First Nations men and women will have a dramatic impact on the economy as participants, consumers and leaders in every sector. Business education provides a solid grounding to take on these leadership roles. This agreement opens another door for our graduates to take their education to the next level. I think we’re all eager to see what the young people who will benefit from this collaboration will achieve.”
The agreement was developed with the approval of the Faculty of Business Administration at U of R. As a federated college, FNUniv has its programs accredited by the U of R, so students who pursue the educational option offered by the articulation agreement will graduate with a degree from that institution.
“Developing an articulation agreement with FNUniv and SIIT is a wonderful example of how post-secondary institutions in our province can work together to increase access to university-level education for Saskatchewan students – particularly those of First Nations descent who have traditionally been underserved in Canada’s post-secondary system,” says University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Vianne Timmons. “As a result of this agreement, we will see more First Nations university graduates in Saskatchewan in the coming years, but perhaps more importantly, we will also see more First Nations business leaders – something that is good news for our province and country.”