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Commentary

From the capital city to coastal communities, urban hubs to riverside towns, New Brunswick Community College’s impact is felt in communities of all sizes across our province. The vast majority of our graduates are working in careers related to their training and 90% of them are working right here in New Brunswick.  In addition to our 90 full-time programs, our apprenticeship and customized and specialized training offerings help ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ meet the needs of learners and employers.

Each year, our college and our graduates contribute over one billion dollars to New Brunswick’s economy. However, our contribution is measured in more than dollars and cents.

We believe that, just like a good Maritime kitchen party, there’s room for everyone at our College. Students choosing ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ come to us with a variety of life experiences and diverse educational aspirations. If we want to elevate New Brunswick, we need to support the successful participation of under-represented groups in post-secondary education and the labour market, including Aboriginal learners, under-employed youth, first-generation (to attend post-secondary education) learners, new Canadians and those experiencing chronic barriers to work.

We aim to be accomplished problem solvers. Through Applied Research and Innovation efforts, ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ helps solve technical and business problems, takes advantage of market opportunities, and develops new innovative technologies and processes that will enhance the way we live, work and do business.

We aim to be change-makers; contributing to diverse and inclusive communities. Community Leadership is our signature learning experience and our Robertson Institute for Community Leadership is the embodiment of our vision of transforming lives and communities.

We aim to be innovators and entrepreneurs. Through programs like OASIS, we are mentoring a new generation of entrepreneurs who will create businesses and new opportunities.

For more than 40 years, ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ has been a leading contributor to the prosperity of our communities and our province.  Now it is time to chart our next chapter. We are inviting all New Brunswickers to participate in the creation of ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾’s new five-year strategic plan (2017-2022).

Through this process, we intend to challenge ourselves and ask big, ambitious, but actionable, questions: How can we ensure that students come to ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ ready to learn and positioned for success?  How can we ensure each New Brunswicker has the opportunity to rise to her or his full potential? How can we use ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾’s expertise and resources to spark productivity, innovation and commercialization? How can ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ work with partners to increase prosperity in our regions and across the province?

Through these discussions, we want to inspire others to think big and aim high. We hope to not only elevate our College, but also to elevate New Brunswick, and elevate the discussions around education. Join the conversation at nbccelevated.ca or through social media by using the #elevatED hashtag.  Together - we can help ³ÉÈËÔ¼ÅÚÍøÕ¾ and New Brunswick reach new heights. Thank you.

Marilyn Luscombe is the President and CEO of New Brunswick Community College.