An alliance project between the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) and the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR) has just been launched in order to improve university services on the North Shore and thus increase enrollment and graduation in the region.
The Minister of Higher Education, Danielle McCann, as well as the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord and Gaspésie‒Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions, Jonatan Julien, today announced financial assistance of $4.5 million for the next three years.
Funding will be distributed equally at the rate of $750,000 for each university per year.
It will essentially be used to cover the hiring of teachers, professionals and administrative resources in the region in order to offer more choices in terms of university education for graduates of CEGEPs and to increase the offer of continuing education. for the employed population.
This measure also aims to solve problems specific to the region, namely to promote access to university education, help meet the training needs of Aboriginal communities, retain more young people on the North Shore and increase graduation rates.
Note that this amount is in addition to the usual funding for student enrollment and is also planned for the years 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
“I firmly believe that access to higher education in the regions of Quebec depends on collaboration between existing CEGEPs and universities,” says Ghislain Samson, rector of UQAC. By working hand in hand with the UQAR teams, we will be able to offer the population of the Côte-Nord high quality university training, relevant and adapted to the needs of the community in sectors as sensitive as education. , nursing, social work or administration. The hiring of a teaching team who will establish themselves on site will also make it possible to develop new expertise and new research niches, while energizing our campus. UQAC is proud to formalize this alliance with a natural partner such as UQAR and thus contribute in a tangible way to strengthening the higher education offer for the North Shore communities. »