Provincial Budget Released for Southeast College
April 17, 2018Southeast College is pleased to see the Government of Saskatchewan’s commitment to post-secondary education in our province, and particularly their confidence in rural Saskatchewan. Southeast College will receive a 3% budget increase in overall funding, with the increase being targeted at supporting learners to gain the skills required to successfully enter today’s labour market.
Over the past number of years, the College has successfully implemented a number of efficiency measures aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability, while strategically investing in curriculum updates and new programing that support economic growth. As the College moves forward with its new five-year Strategic Plan scheduled to be released early this summer, it will continue to align its business strategies with core expectations of the provincial government with a primary focus on responsiveness, sustainability, accountability, accessibility and quality programming.
The College’s plans for innovation and growth over the next fiscal year include:
- Development of 2nd Class Power Engineering Curriculum and the creation of a Power Engineering Centre of Excellence;
- Pursuing International Student Designation;
- Developing new programming such as Management Essentials for Businesses and a Solar Power Training program; and
- Continued partnerships with the University of Regina to provide first Year University in Education, Social Work, Health Sciences and more.
“Overall, we are grateful for the on-going support and confidence that the Government has in our College. We will continue to invest in the areas that impact learner success and labour market needs in the communities that we serve,” said Dion McGrath, President and CEO of Southeast College. “We are looking forward to continued growth while adhering to our practice of disciplined financial management to ensure appropriate stewardship of our public resources.”
“The past fiscal year for the College has been one of growth and renewal. We have continued to diversify and grow programming options for learners in order to offset the decline in the economy,” said McGrath, “The College is positioned to continue to be responsive and flexible and we will continue to provide labour market solutions to the businesses and industries in southeast Saskatchewan.”
The Provincial Government has continued their support for post-secondary education by supporting scholarship programs, including Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarships (SIOS), which matches the funds raised by Southeast College.
Highlights from the 2018 Provincial Budget include:
- $48 K for matching scholarships;
- $37 K for preventative maintenance funding;
- $200 K increase in funding for Essential Skills in the Workplace training.
Southeast College is proud to be the Trainer of Choice in Southeast Saskatchewan. The College offers innovative and flexible programming that encourages students to learn where they live.