Post-secondary students in Manitoba will soon benefit from a new, searchable online database that will ensure course credits and work experience are recognized consistently. This announcement was made by Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum.
“Students today need greater flexibility to transfer credits between programs and institutions,” said Minister Allum. “This new transfer credit portal will make navigating the education system easier and more effective, and create a more transparent system for prior learning recognition and credit transfer, so that post-secondary students in Manitoba don’t face any barriers to reaching their full potential academically.”
The new credit transfer portal is expected to be up and running by spring 2016, and will list transfer arrangements between Manitoba’s seven partnering institutions, the minister said. He added the list will expand to include other Manitoba institutions over time.
“Students need and value access to flexible and affordable post-secondary education options. This new transfer credit portal will enhance opportunities for students and provides the necessary supports within the system,” Dr. Gervan Fearon, president and vice-chancellor, Brandon University.
The province is also providing funding for a new student advocate service to offer confidential advice to students who have questions and concerns about the assessment of transfer credit and the recognition of prior learning at Manitoba’s universities and colleges. More information about contacting the student advocate is available at www.ecampusmanitoba.com.
“The student advocate will ensure that course credits and work experience are recognized in a consistent and transparent way,” said Minister Allum, who also noted the new portal and student advocate are part of Manitoba’s Post-Secondary Education Strategy, announced earlier this year.
“I am proud to be student union president of a university that allows such a strong advocacy for our students, and equally proud of a government that is making real efforts to help students,” said Aaron Thompson, president, Brandon University Students’ Union. “As a student who had to deal with transfers often through my academic career, it is comforting to know that future students will have access to advocacy in a way I never did.”
Last year, Manitoba became the first province in Western Canada to eliminate provincial interest on all student loans. The Manitoba government has also removed an eligibility requirement on the student loan application, which previously saw students who own a vehicle worth over $10,000 ineligible for a student loan. This new initiative will reduce a barrier to student aid faced by many rural and northern students by removing vehicle ownership as a consideration when applying for a student loan.
