By Sabrina Welli
Many Holland College programs offer pathways to a degree through partnerships with universities in Canada and around the world. By pursuing a degree pathway, students can transfer up to two years of credit from their Holland College diploma toward a university degree. The pathways provide a clear route for those who wish to continue their education.
Many students start their education at Holland College without considering whether they will continue their studies after they complete their program.
Abby Hyndman didn’t, when she applied to the two-year Graphic Design program in 2018.
Abby loved the program right away, especially the hands-on training. Through the Holland College website she realized she could turn her diploma into a degree by following a degree pathway.
“I felt lucky to have the opportunity to make it a full degree,” she said.
Then, in 2020, COVID hit.
Abby couldn’t leave the Island during the pandemic and had to postpone her plan to follow a degree pathway.
To keep herself busy, she took up surfing. She immediately fell in love with the sport and threw herself into it.
PEI has ideal weather conditions for surfing, she said.
“It’s the perfect sport when you live on the Island.”
Once the world opened up again Abby applied to Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, a long-time Holland College degree pathway partner, and was accepted into the Bachelor of Design program. Through the agreement, the college’s Graphic Design graduates may complete a Bachelor of Design, Visual Communications major, in one and half years.
Abby moved to Gold Coast, a city that stretches along a white sand beach – a dream location for surfers.
Although the foreign school system differs a lot from the Canadian one, Abby loved her experience abroad.
The Gold Coast has amazing waves and great weather.
“I did all of my studying outside,” she said.
Abby graduated from Griffith in 2023. When she came back to PEI, she started freelancing for a US-based adventure sport company called Cabrinha. A year later, she works full time as the chief graphic designer for the brand and designs the artwork for their surfboards.
It’s her dream job.
“It’s pretty awesome to combine your passion with your profession,” she said.
Photo credit to Katherine McLaine, IG: @katherinemaclaine
Some students have a very clear idea of the path they want to take before they embark on their post-secondary journey. Connor Gorrill, for example, was still in high school when he was asked to help a young man with a spinal deformity. The teenager’s condition made even basic movements a challenge.
Connor was friends with the boy’s former trainer. The trainer recommended Connor, who accepted the position and began working with the boy, creating exercises tailored to his needs. Over time, the exercises strengthened the teenager’s body and gradually improved his condition.
That’s when Connor knew he had to go into kinesiology.
“Helping someone who’s struggling to achieve their goals and to get them back to everyday life is very fulfilling,” he said.
Connor enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Nova Scotia Community College. After completing the program, he secured a position at Holland College’s physical therapy clinic, where his work further fueled his passion for the profession.
“I found so much joy in working in the field,” he recalls.
Connor chose to take the next step in his journey by pursuing Holland College’s kinesiology degree pathway at the University of Prince Edward Island. Under the terms of the agreement, graduates receive up to 60 credit hours toward a Bachelor of Science (Kinesiology) degree. He graduated in 2023 with a diploma in kinesiology from Holland College. Now he’s in his final year at UPEI and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 2025.
“I wanted to finish school as quickly as possible so I can get back out and continue working in the field,” he said.
Meghan Dewar began her degree pathway journey in 2020. The degree pathway she followed was a little different. It started with a year at UPEI, then she entered the Journalism and Communications program, graduating in 2023. After that, she returned to university to complete her Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree.
She sees the key difference between college and university is in the approach to learning.
“University provided the academic foundation, while Holland College showed me how to apply it,” she said.
Meghan said the instructors at Holland College have great connections and pass them onto their students.
When she relocated to Cape Breton earlier this year, Brad Works, an instructor in the college’s Journalism and Communications program, encouraged her to apply for a position at the local newspaper, the Cape Breton Post.
Meghan hesitated. The job position was advertised for Sydney, Meghan lives on the other end of Cape Breton.
The Holland College instructor urged her to go for it anyway.
“Call the editor! They want to talk to you,” Works told her.
She followed his advice, and the newspaper not only hired her as a multimedia journalist, they also created a position for her where she lives.
“The instructors push you into the right direction.”
Meghan recommends the degree pathway to future students.
“Employers still value your credentials,” she said. “Holland College and UPEI have excellent reputations. You get the best of both worlds.”
Each degree pathway has specific terms. To find out more, visit the degree pathway section of the website.
