Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
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Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

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Survey of Canadian Career College Students - March 2008

1. Project Background

While extensive Canadian research exists at the national and provincial levels examining student and graduate satisfaction and the transition from public post-secondary systems to the world of work, very little research has been completed to ascertain debt levels, student satisfaction and/or outcomes associated with participation in a private post­secondary educational program. Given that Canada's private post-secondary education system provides program instruction to in excess of 150,000 students each year, it is critical that reliable research be conducted with this group to establish perceptions, institutions and financial assistance needs, similar to that conducted for students enrolled in Canada's public post-secondary education system. Additionally, since many students who attend such institutions also utilize the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP), there is also a public policy interest in assessing the usage/need of student financial assistance programs in Canada's private post-secondary education system.

Human Resources and Social Development Canada in partnership with the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation commissioned R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. to conduct the Survey of Canadian Career College Students. The National Association of Career Colleges supported this research through the provision of in-kind assistance. The research, conducted in three phases, began with a survey of private career colleges (Institutional Survey) to ascertain the number of institutions and students eligible to participate in the Survey of Canadian Career College Students. An in-school survey was then conducted with students enrolled in eligible programs in private career colleges throughout Canada. The in-school student survey will be followed up with a graduate outcomes survey to determine outcomes associated with participation in the private post-secondary educational system.

This report focuses on the findings of the in-school survey of students of private career colleges (Phase II). The findings of the Institutional Survey can be found under a separate report entitled: Survey of Canadian Career College Students Phase I: Institutional Survey. Findings from the Graduate Outcomes Survey will be published under a third report: the Survey of Canadian Career College Students Phase III: Graduate Outcomes Survey.

1.1 Project Objectives

The key objectives of the in-school survey were as follows:

  • to understand the socio-economic background of students attending private post-secondary training institutions (PTIs).
  • to identify reasons/factors that influenced the selection of a private post-secondary program/ institution rather than a public post-secondary program;
  • to assess work and educational transition plans of students post-program; and
  • to detail the level of student satisfaction with the education/services provided.

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Date Modified:
2008-04-07