by Sherri Hogan

Holland College entered into an agreement designed to improve access to training delivered to federal and provincial public servants in P.E.I.. This agreement, the first of its kind in Canada, will bring accessible, affordable and relevant learning to public servants in Prince Edward Island.

On hand for the signing were: Janice Cochrane, President of the Canada School of the Public Service (CSPS); Dan Woodin, Second Vice-Chair of the P.E.I. Federal Council; Verna Bruce, Associate Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada; Alex MacAulay, President of Holland College; Wade MacLauchlan, President of the University of Prince Edward Island; and Jim Ferguson, CEO of the P.E.I. Public Service Commission.

These partners will work in collaboration to achieve the objectives of the agreement, which are: to provide affordable and relevant training, development and learning opportunities to support a high-performing, professional public service; to utilize the training capacity of local learning institutions /organizations; and, to increase access and participation of public servants to core and common learning offerings.

Working together, the partners will identify regional learning needs of federal and provincial public servants, determine the course content to meet these needs and identify trainers and subject matter experts. Each partner will also have a key specific role to play in accomplishing the objectives of the agreement. The Canada School of Public Service, as the common learning service provider for the Public Service of Canada, will determine evaluation criteria, provide curriculum, and monitor the quality and relevance of offerings.

The P.E.I. Federal Council, which is made up of representatives from federal government departments in P.E.I. who are dedicated to improving the work environment and improving skill sets for public servants in the region, will help determine regional federal learning needs. And as the major federal employer in P.E.I., Veterans Affairs Canada will contribute in identifying the regional learning needs specific to their employees.

Holland College will act as the lead for both UPEI and the College in being the point of contact for addressing these learning needs. And the Province of Prince Edward Island?s focus in this partnership will be to explore synergies regarding core and common learning needs between federal and provincial public servants.

This agreement further advances Holland College's role in the delivery of customized training. The College recently secured the services of Carol Gabanna to offer organizational leadership and training services to Provincial Government and Regional Health employees. For further information please contact Jeanette MacAulay at 566-9565.