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School's community-linked trades training gives youth a leg up to better-paying jobs.

Fort St. John, a city in an area with a huge need for qualified tradespeople, is dead serious about solving the problem. And the solution starts right at its local high school. Source.

Mandatory retirement ban

For Robert Anderson, it's akin to being saved by the bell.  A few months ago, things looked gloomy for the 64-year-old Simon Fraser University communications professor, who was scheduled to retire when he hits 65 in August despite wanting to keep working for a few more years.  More.

New program to fund research

The B.C. government is putting up $10 million over the next four years to help universities attract "research stars," Premier Gordon Campbell announced Tuesday.  The money will fund Pacific Century Graduate Scholarships, the province's first scholarship program for graduate students.  B.C. universities have lobbied for graduate scholarships for several years, in part because Ontario has a provincial scholarship plan for graduate students.  More.

Five careers later, he's top of his SFU business class

Bernie Maroney, who notched up a near-perfect grade-point average at Simon Fraser University's Segal School of Business, had this to say about his stellar achievement: "I should have done better."  Source.

University gives tradespeople a lift into management

Thompson Rivers program tries to change the perception of skilled trades, universities. Source.

Information & Communications Technology

A not-for-profit sector council, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), formerly the Software Human Resource Council. ICTC strives to create a strong, prepared and highly educated Canadian ICT industry and workforce. ICTC is a catalyst for change, pushing for innovations that will provide skills definitions, labour market intelligence, career awareness and professional development for the Canadian ICT industry, educators and governments. We forge partnerships that will help develop the quantity and quality of ICT professionals needed to maintain and improve Canada’s position as a leader in the global marketplace.

To achieve these goals, ICTC focuses on four main areas that are proven building blocks for a healthy, successful and forward-looking sector:

Skills Definition
Labour Market Intelligence
Career Awareness
Professional Development

Trades are a first class career

Kwantlen University College officially opened its trades and technology training centre in Cloverdale on Friday -- 17,000 square metres of soaring glass and bright classrooms.  Key trade programs: automotive, electrical, welding, carpentry, millwright, farrier, appliance repair and public-safety 911 communications. Source.

BCIT program aimed at filling biotechnology needs

When people think of a career in B.C.'s burgeoning biotech industry, the prospect of spending a good chunk of your life getting a doctorate degree can seem a little daunting.  But that doesn't have to be the case, as a local program geared for lab technicians and researchers attests to.  "We train [students] to go out and work right away and our students are getting snapped up," Carly Handel, the program and marketing assistant for B.C. Institute of Technology's biotechnology department, said in an interview. "Some go on to be MDs or work in other fields, but for the most part they take entry-level jobs as research associates or lab technicians."  Source.

Film School spotlights surge in scholarships

Vancouver Film School has $200,000 in scholarships -- twice the amount it had last year -- available for students from Western Canada.  School recruiters are currently on the B.C. leg of their search for eager, talented students. They saw 23 potential students in Prince George Tuesday, 45 in Kelowna Wednesday, and will visit Victoria today and Vancouver Friday. They then travel to Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton for sessions in early April.  Scholarships range from $1,000 to $10,000, based on three criteria.  Source.

Province lures grads with student aid

The provincial government plans to dole out nearly $2 million annually in new scholarships, research fellowships and student loan repayments to entice talent to the B.C. public service.  The plan will have a major impact in the Greater Victoria area where about 12,000 of B.C.'s approximately 30,000 public servants live and work. It will cost $1.75 million in the first year. Campbell said the new incentives are part of a program to give the public service a competitive edge in recruiting and retaining employees. That's important since 45 per cent of managers and 35 per cent of current employees are eligible to retire from the public service by 2015. Source.