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By Chris Brown

Four core themes

College well-positioned for economic recovery task force’s recommendations, says president

Oct 19, 2020 | 3:20 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Economic recovery is a major part of conversations happening in government and industry across Alberta.

Post-secondary institutions like Medicine Hat College are no different.

The Alberta Colleges Economic Task Force has released its final recommendations after months of discussions with industry, government, economic development groups, Indigenous peoples and students.

The 18 recommendations in the report are centred around four themes: Indigenous peoples’ participation in post-secondary education and the works force, student participation and integration into the workforce, talent and skills development and connecting to industry and industry-driven solutions.

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Medicine Hat College president Kevin Shufflebotham says the four themes align with the goals of the college and its strategic plans “of increasing access to education, preparing learning to realize their goals and strengthening regional vitality.”

Shufflebotham believes Medicine Hat College is already out in front of the themes.

“So a lot of what the report is recommending is actually to various extents being done by the college. For example, we’re expanding integrated learning opportunities. We’re building relationships to expand applied research opportunities and even working with industries to identify skill gaps.”

He adds what needs to happen going forward is take a regional look at what the college is doing and then to look at how the college approaches the issues on a system level.

The task force recommendations fit MHC and its role as a comprehensive college well.

“We work with industry and business through applied research and skill development and because of this focus it makes us relevant and that’s our role within the province,” says Shufflebotham.