transformation and technology plan

184 Pages·2012·2.15 MB·English

Ministry of Advanced Education
TRANSFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY PLAN
FOR THE POST-SECONDARY SECTOR
Fiscal 2012/13 - 2014/15
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE
MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY MINISTER
Chapter 1 – BUSINESS CONTEXT AND DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
Chapter 2 – TRANSFORMING FOR TOMORROW
2.1 Drivers for Change 7
2.2 Vision for Transformation 8
2.3 Our Achievements - Highlights 9
Chapter 3 – OUR PILLARS
3.1 Pillar 1 - Student Centred Experience 13
3.2 Pillar 2 - Working Better Together - Building Collective, Connected Solutions 26
3.3 Pillar 3 - Reimagine our Workplace 34
Appendices
Appendix I – Internet Strategy
Appendix II – StudentAid BC
Appendix III – Online Learning Inventory
Appendix IV – Open Data Inventory
Appendix V – Open Information Inventory
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We are preparing students for jobs that don’t exist...
using technologies that haven’t been invented....
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solving problems we don’t even know are problems .
This is Advanced Education for the Future
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by Karl Fisch, and modifed by Scott McLeod; Globalization & The Information Age.
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MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY MINISTER
British Columbia’s economic and social prosperity relies, more than ever, on
an innovative and collaborative post-secondary education sector. British
Columbians must have the knowledge and training required to succeed in a
global marketplace where the requirement for a post-secondary education
is ever increasing. To satisfy the growing demand for higher learning, and to
ensure B.C. remains a global destination to learn and live, the post-secondary
education sector will continue to transform.
In the future, the Ministry of Advanced Education and post-secondary
institutions and agencies together as a sector, will be seen as a hub for
leading edge higher education. This sector will draw global attention;
attracting the brightest minds and furthering investments in B.C. We will
inspire a sense of collective purpose, putting the student experience at the
centre of our business where technology is used to enable transformation
and enrich the value of post- secondary education.
It is my pleasure to present the Transformation and Technology Plan for the post-secondary education sector. The
plan is the ministry’s approach to maximizing the potential of collective resources throughout the sector. It is collab-
orative vision of a seamless student experience providing information, support and services in a way that
ensures smooth and efortless transition throughout the student’s educational journey and into the labour market.
The Transformation and Technology Plan is a three year plan aligning to the three strategic shifts in the operating
philosophy of the public service: to engage stakeholders more directly with government; expand opportunities for
self-service; and take a more corporate approach to planning and innovation.
These shifts are aligned with the three pillars the sector has identifed as the vision for transformation and the foun-
dation for supporting jobs, families and our economy:
Student Centred Experience – Service delivery for the modern learner
Working Better Together – Building collective, connected solutions
Reimaging our Workplace – Transforming how and where we work
The sector will focus on a student centred experience by improving online service delivery and modernizing its
approach to the development of mobile web solutions. Students will have access when and where they want to the
information, support and services vital to making informed choices about their educational path.
Collaboration with students, stakeholders and across government sectors will be enhanced by providing more open
and transparent access to ministry information, data and policies. Public access to sector data and open information
will encourage more informed public conversations and develop a stronger partnership with those whom the post-
secondary education sector serves.
As modern technology and public expectations drive our transformative vision for service delivery and citizen
engagement, the ministry also recognises the need for an innovative approach to business operations. We will
support employee productivity and organizational agility by aligning the work environment with work patterns.
Our future workplace will be more responsive and better able to accommodate the current and future needs of B.C.
students.
Our plan is for an innovative post-secondary education sector that promotes citizen engagement and self-service,
with a momentum of collaboration that will continue to transform the future of post-secondary education in
British Columbia.
Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland
A/Deputy Minister
Ministry of Advanced Education
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Quality post-secondary education that fosters
innovation, strong communities and bright futures
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1.0 BUSINESS CONTEXT AND DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
Who We are Today
High quality and accessible post-secondary education continues to be a priority for government. The post-
secondary education sector plays a vital role in shaping the future of B.C. by preparing students to fnd
their place in the workforce. Our post-secondary education and training sector develops the knowledge,
skills and creativity needed to create bright futures and strong communities.
The success of our province is dependent upon our people excelling in their education and training
opportunities to become knowledge leaders and highly skilled workers. This advantage will help individuals
to achieve successful careers, and the province to fulfll its labour and workforce productivity needs.

The Role of the Ministry
The Ministry of Advanced Education ensures that accessible, afordable, high quality post-secondary
education and training opportunities are available to the public. We do this by working with B.C.’s
province-wide network of public and private post-secondary institutions, training partners and service
providers which makes up the post-secondary sector. The sector delivers relevant and responsive
education and training opportunities and provides the provincial labour market with the right people,
with the right skills, at the right time.
The ministry provides leadership to champion a world class post-secondary education system. We
establish policy and provide funding to public post-secondary institutions. Various mechanisms are in
place such as legislation, funding agreements and reporting requirements to ensure accountability for
public funds.
We oversee the legislative and regulatory frameworks that govern private degree granting and career
training institutions and administer the B.C. Education Quality Assurance program which ensures quality
assurance standards are met and consumer protection is assured.
With our partner ministries, we administer student fnancial aid programs including loans, grants,
bursaries, scholarships and special programs which help eligible students cover the costs of their
post-secondary education.
We also deliver programs such as adult education, Aboriginal education, credential recognition and
transfer, and international education to ensure access to post-secondary education for all British
Columbians and students wishing to study in B.C. Working with post-secondary partners we deliver a
transfer system that permits seamless mobility for students. This transfer system supports improved
participation rates, learning outcomes and increases overall economic opportunities for all students.
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1.0 BUSINESS CONTEXT AND DRIVERS FOR CHANGE
As part of the post-secondary sector we will capitalize on B.C.’s educational advantages to ensure it is
recognized worldwide for quality, which in turn will make B.C. a destination of choice for students to study,
work and invest. We strive to position the B.C. post-secondary sector as a leader in education and research so
B.C. attracts the brightest minds and facilitates their pursuit of leading edge research and careers. Ensuring
citizens possess the knowledge and skills needed to prosper in the local economy means they are equipped
to fully contribute to the global economy.
The Role of Post-Secondary Institutions
It is our public and private post-secondary institutions, training partners and service providers that deliver
education and training programs across the province. With over 1,900 programs at 25 publicly funded
institutions – including 11 regional colleges that respond directly to local skill needs - and approximately
375 private institutions, B.C.’s post-secondary institutions ofers a broad range of education and training
options in every region.
Public post-secondary institutions in B.C.
have a signifcant and appropriate degree of autonomy Over 40
from government. This autonomy Aboriginal
controlled
allows institutions the necessary independence
institutes
to determine how to efectively meet
the needs of their students, their
communities and the province.
These institutions develop and
25 public 13 private
deliver programs and courses,
institutions theological
provide education and training, institutions
undertake research, and serve the
educational needs of their communities. Students
In addition to public post-secondary
institutions, B.C. also has a
diverse range of private post-secondary
institutions and training organizations 17 private or 350 regulated
that ofer education and training programs out of province private
including career training, and English as a degree granting training
Second Language. Unlike their public institutions organizations
counterparts, the ministry does not fund private
post-secondary institutions. However, private degree
granting and career training institutions are subject to legislative and regulatory frameworks including the
Degree Authorization Act and the Private Career Training Institutions Act.
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...the 2020 learner will be less interested in the boundaries
between institutions than their inter-linkages...
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2.0 TRANSFORMING FOR TOMORROW
2.1 Drivers for Change
B.C.’s economy is changing. Primary industry jobs are dwindling while jobs in business, service, fnance,
sales, health care and technology are on the rise. The B.C. government estimates there will be over one
million new job openings by 20202. About 78 per cent of those job openings will require some form of
post-secondary education or training3. Currently, only 60 per cent of B.C. citizens possess
post-secondary education. To close this gap, all citizens need access to high quality,
future-oriented, afordable education leading to opportunities for gainful employment.
Students’ needs are also changing. They want to learn whatever, whenever, wherever, and however they
want through seamless access to high quality, afordable education. Students expect to learn
and communicate through online services and social media tools. The traditional brick and mortar
classroom no longer completely serves the needs of today’s student. Instead,
students are demanding asynchronous, self-paced, online, and mobile
alternatives. Today’s students want to have the ability to tailor
their post-secondary experience to meet their diverse and
geographically based needs. They want greater mobility of
credits through seamless access to courses ofered at
diferent institutions across B.C. and around the world. $4.8 billion investment in
public post-secondary,
Changes in the local and global economy are necessitating
generates 50,000 new
changes to B.C.’s post-secondary education system.
To meet students’ and employers’ needs, post-secondary graduates, 36,000 jobs,
institutions are shifting their focus from what they want to $35.6 billion impact on
ofer, to what students want and need to gross domestic product
learn in order to fully contribute to the economy and to
communities. Post-secondary institutions are delivering more
online courses and ofering abbreviated, blended (in-person
and online) programs. The number of learners taking online
4
courses has soared from 17,000 in 2006 to 71,000 in 2010 .
The post-secondary sector is collaborating. Institutions are ofering new cross-disciplinary programs,
researching together and partnering with other agencies and businesses. By striving to be relevant,
fexible, adaptable, responsive and nimble they are re-conceptualizing their role in the larger community.
Institutions are realizing the power of new communication and social media tools in the delivery of
modern, student-centred post-secondary education.
2 Skills for Growth: British Columbia’s Labour Market Strategy to 2020, p2
3 British Columbia Labour Market Outlook: 2010-2020. Retrieved from http://www.workbc.ca/docs/BCLMOutlook.pdf
4 Premier’s Technology Council, A Vision for 21st Century Education, December 2010,
http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/attachments/PTC_vision%20for_education.pdf p 21
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2.0 TRANSFORMING FOR TOMORROW
2.2 Vision for Transformation
“...the shifts required to meet the needs of B.C.’s learners over the next generation will not be confined
to the traditional components of our education system, but must embrace a wider set of institutions.
Call it “learning without borders.”

A seamless student experience is one that provides students with information, support and services in
a way that ensures a smooth, efortless transition throughout their educational experience and into the
labour market. Seamlessness is about the students’ educational journey when, where and how they want
it; it is mobile, relevant, secure and connected.
The student’s journey does not begin in post-secondary studies nor does it end after a credential has been
received. Students and their families need information and tools at every stage to help guide decision
making and ensure students gain the skills necessary to be successful and fully engaged in the knowledge
economy beyond graduation.
Whether a student is transitioning from K – 12 to post-secondary, a graduate student is transitioning from
post-secondary to the labour market, a life-long learner is upgrading mid career or an international
student is looking for placement in an english speaking country, their experience must be one that pro-
vides seamless access to information and services. Their experience within the post-secondary system
must encourage collaboration, participation and successful completion. This seamless post-secondary
education system will attract international students to study in B.C. providing cultural, fnancial and eco-
nomic benefts to institutions and the communities they serve.
The post-secondary sector must encourage collaboration and work less in isolation and more as a
federation. We need to inspire a sense of collective purpose while allowing institutions to maintain the
autonomy necessary to preserve academic freedom and to fourish. We will lead collaboration and
integration within the post-secondary sector to ensure a student-centred experience. We will work as
a sector to create opportunities for students to study where, how and what they want and provide the
information and fnancial support they need to make informed choices about their education. This new
approach will ensure students have the knowledge and skills needed to fulfll their potential, contribute to
society and fourish in the 21st century knowledge economy.
To achieve our transformative vision for post-secondary education, we will need to radically change how
we do business, provide services, collaborate and innovate both internally and with the sector so that we
continue to meet the needs and expectations of students now and into the future.
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