Helping learners find their way
The education-to-employment journey rarely follows a straight line.
High school students face enormous pressure to make decisions about attending colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes. This timeline rarely allows sufficient opportunities to explore different interests and understand career possibilities. Many learners begin one postsecondary program, only to discover that another one offered at a different institution would better align with their professional aspirations. In other cases, personal circumstances may require that learners transfer to a different college, university or Indigenous Institute.
At the same time, many people already in the workforce think about returning to postsecondary studies: underemployed adults seeking to develop new skills, mid-career professionals working to upgrade their credentials and newcomers wanting to acquire a Canadian-based education.
Both of those situations — current students looking to transfer between programs and people in the workforce considering a new career direction — may require the completion of additional courses or postsecondary credentials.
As a convener and sector partner, ONCAT has collaborated with Ontario’s postsecondary institutions to provide learners with appropriate academic recognition for their previous postsecondary education, as well as the knowledge and skills they acquired through workplace, non-formal and informal learning experiences.
Vision
A postsecondary education and training system that empowers learners to build upon their previous education and work experience to achieve their personal, educational, and professional goals.
Values
Grounded in a commitment to equity, diversity, access, and inclusion, ONCAT’s activities are guided by the following values:
- Learner-Centred: We are dedicated to understanding and supporting the diverse needs, aspirations, and challenges of learners at publicly assisted colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario.
- Impact: We take action to create measurable and transformative change for Ontario learners.
- Adaptability: We respond to the evolving needs of Ontario learners, our partners, and stakeholders.
- Collaboration: We drive success through the strength of our relationships.
- Knowledge Sharing: We foster an environment where knowledge is freely exchanged.
Our Partners
Proudly partnering with colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes to help learners navigate and succeed in Ontario’s postsecondary system.