Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade Visits Sheridan to Announce Funding for Colleges and Institutes Canada

Mr. Erin O’Toole, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade visited Sheridan’s Skills Training Centre today to announce a $116,000 grant for Colleges and Institutes Canada under Canada’s Global Opportunities for Associations (GOA) program.

The GOA program provides funding to support national associations undertaking new or expanded international business development activities in strategic markets and sectors. In the case of Colleges and Institutes Canada, of which Sheridan is a member, it will help the association explore opportunities to establish new international partnerships and attract a greater number of qualified international students to Canadian colleges and institutes.

Over the past five years, Sheridan’s international student population has grown by 600% to over 3,000 students.  These students hail from over 40 countries including India, China, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela.  Mr. O’Toole noted that programs like the one announced today will advance the Government of Canada’s target of attracting 450,000 international students to Canada by 2022.

Ms. Cynthia Murphy, Director, Canadian Immigration and Integration Program and International Partnerships in Asia at Colleges and Institutes Canada explained that the new grant will support her organization’s international marketing, student recruitment and partnership activities in priority countries that include China, Vietnam and Nigeria

(Above - from left to right: Terence Young, Oakville MP,  Erin O’Toole, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, Cynthia Murphy, Director, Canadian Immigration and Integration Program and International Partnerships in Asia at Colleges and Institutes Canada. Top right - from left to right: Dr. Iain McNab, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology at Sheridan, Erin O'Toole, Terence Young, Cynthia Murphy)

Oakville MP Terence Young, who was present for the announcement commented on the important role of institutions like Sheridan who attract “a different kind of genius” than a traditional university.  He thanked Sheridan’s faculty and staff for the important work they do every day to educate future generations and to support Canada’s long-term prosperity. 

Dr. Iain McNab, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science and Technology and host of the event outlined the booming demand for graduates of Sheridan’s tool and die program and the opportunities that graduates in pre-trades and apprenticeship programs have to use their credentials as a stepping stone into many other diploma programs. He thanked all the partners for their collective efforts to provide people with access to the outstanding learning opportunities that position them for long-term success.