New Brunswick Community College creating it's first 5 year strategic plan to create new opportunities for students and to increase their presence in the community.
NBCC president Marilyn Lucsombe tells CHSJ news there are some brand new changes in the plan. Lucsombe describes developing a signature learning experience, where students will take their learning and apply it to helping the community, such as cleaning up a river bed.
The college will also be starting an elder in residence program. The focus is bringing in an aboriginal elder to provide wisdom, guidance, and influence to both students and staff. They would also provide more education on aboriginal culture, says Lucombe.
Internships will have a bigger role in curriculum. The school will also be bringing in mentors to help students become successful in business. NBCC will also be trying to bring in more international students, who they hope will stay and work in the province after they graduate.
A whole new piece of work that's starting is applied research, so the college can work with industries to test and commercialise new products. Luscombe says they're trying to bring in their first research chair to help link up with the ICT community and to be more productive in working with mobile devices.
Members of NBCC's board will be travelling to all of their campuses to promote their new strategic commitments.