News

Submission Deadline: October 23, 2017

Objective

ONCAT is soliciting Proposals from experienced and qualified proponents to support ONCAT in holding a one day symposium that brings together postsecondary partners, government and political representatives, local industry, and community organizations from across northern Ontario. Proponents must be able to provide public relations, strategic communications, and event planning services.

With this in mind, ONCAT is seeking to:

1. Explore the relationship between postsecondary educational pathways, industry, and postsecondary institutions.
2. Foster innovative collaborations, and identify potential opportunities to develop institutional pathways that connect suitably skilled students with new and existing industry.
3. Enhance the credit transfer system and promote student mobility in northern Ontario.

Background

Established in 2011, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) was created to enhance student pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario's 45 public postsecondary institutions. It was created as a member-driven organization to work with all public colleges and universities to enable the system of credit transfer to develop as rapidly as possible, while also respecting institutional autonomy. ONCAT is a not-for-profit funded by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD).

In 2015 ONCAT worked with the ten northern colleges and universities (Algoma University, Collège Boréal, Canadore College, Cambrian College, Confederation College, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Nipissing University, Northern College and Sault College) to create a steering committee to address the unique circumstances and challenges faced by institutions of the north. The committee’s helps to support a new and innovative relationship among the ten northern institutions by developing a robust and responsive transfer system in the north. The steering committee intensions are to facilitate pathways and student mobility for students in northern communities, enhance institutional collaboration among northern colleges and universities, and strengthen ONCAT’s capacity to meet the needs of northern institutions.

In 2016 members of the committee were given a one-time grant to conduct a feasibility study into the connection between student mobility and local economic development.

To support discussions with community partners, ONCAT will convene a symposium that will include relevant postsecondary institutions, Indigenous community representatives, industry/chambers of commerce, and local government. This event will engage a broad range of partners interested in working with postsecondary institutions to enhance pathways that support economic development in northern communities. The research conducted by the institutions prior to the symposium will be used to fuel the discussion.

As a member organization, the Selected Proponent will be working closely with ONCAT and with a working group of partners.

Submission Process

• Proponents are required to submit one (1) electronic copy of their proposal to: policyandprograms@oncat.ca
• ONCAT will accept Proposals up until the closing date and time of Monday, October 23 at 3:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time)
• Proposals shall be irrevocable for any reason for a period of not less than sixty (60) calendar days following the closing date.
• All Proposals submitted to ONCAT under this Bid Document become the property of ONCAT. Selected finalists will be asked to interview in person in Toronto.