Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework & Action Plan

Engagement Summary

In 2007, the Province launched an Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Strategy and Action Plan (2007 Strategy) which committed to improving higher education and employment outcomes for Aboriginal learners. The Ministry of Advanced Education (AVED) conducted an evaluation of the 2007 Strategy in 2011 and worked  in collaboration with the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Partners, to develop the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Policy Framework and Action Plan: 2020 Vision for the Future (Policy Framework) launched in June 2012.
 

Timeframe:

July 2010 to February 2012
 

Input Received:

The Ministry of Advanced Education engaged with over 700 stakeholders on the development of the policy framework.
 
Engagement on the draft Policy Framework engagement included:

• Face-to-face meetings with Aboriginal community members, the First Nations Leadership Council, First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Ministries of Education and Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, public post-secondary institutions’ Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Deans of Education, Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Coordinators, leaders, elders and students; and
• A one-day Forum held on February 3, 2012.

 
Social media engagement analytics from January 4 to February 10, 2012 were as follows:

• @AboriginalEdBC Twitter account reached 240 followers;
• AboriginalEdbc Facebook page had 183 Likes;
• Over 600 YouTube views of Minister Yamamoto’s video introduction to the online engagement;
• Approximately 50 individuals posted comments; and
• Many individuals posted multiple times and responded to multiple questions via Hootsuite.

Input leads to action:

The Policy Framework commits to ongoing engagement of Aboriginal post-secondary education partners to ensure that Aboriginal perspectives are reflected in the design and implementation of post-secondary policy, programs and services in British Columbia. The implementation requires the collaborative and coordinated efforts from provincial and federal governments, Aboriginal communities, institutes and organizations, public post-secondary institutions and the communities that they serve.
 
The Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education and Training Partners regularly review and discuss implementation and monitoring of the Policy Framework, and yearly progress reports are posted to the Aboriginal Programs website. AVED also works bilaterally with FNESC and IALHA, and recently signed a protocol agreement that strengthens collaboration on Aboriginal post-secondary education.