Georgian College

EMSI Economic Impact Documents

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Along with its range of traditional college programs, Georgian is also home to Ontario's leading co-operative education program. Georgian's co-op programs are a new way of pursuing graduate employment for students, one that incorporates extensive workplace experience into the educational plan. To make this a reality, Georgian has partnered with more than 6,200 employers, in many different fields, to create opportunities for co-op program students to learn by doing. Co-op programs have proved very popular with both students and employers. Today, Georgian has more than 5,000 students enrolled in co-op programs. Those students are treated like any other employee, being paid a wage for their labour, while also learning how to do their job and be part of a workplace. Participants' progress is monitored and evaluated by both the college and the employer. This hands-on experience is a critical asset for graduates seeking employment; employers are always seeking experienced labour. As a result, Georgian students consistently see well above average success in their post-college job searches. More than 87% of Georgian graduates find work within six months, and leads all Ontario colleges in graduate employment. Co-op programs are not the only hands-on experience offered by the college; there are also a variety of fieldwork, field placement, and clinical placement opportunities. Georgian offers field placements referred to as "clinical" opportunities, which are a required component of nearly all Health, Wellness and Sciences programs. For example, participants in the college's Nursing program spend part of their program working in Barrie's hospital, providing a valuable service while getting direct experience. Partnerships like these and the co-op program provide critical value by supporting local businesses and services, while equipping students to succeed. Whether the program is preparing students for a regulated health profession or not, most have a mandate to ensure that students have completed a certain minimum number of clinical hours learning in the practice setting. In health, these are largely unpaid placements with the goal being that students can focus on the learner aspect rather than the employee aspect of career and discipline preparation. Each year between 3,000 and 4,000 students are placed in a variety of healthcare settings across Ontario and beyond those borders (depending on the program and time of year). Georgian does this by maintaining positive partnerships with hundreds of healthcare agencies and working collaboratively across all of its campuses. Off-campus experiences can include long-term care agencies, hospitals, and community settings. Students are also provided with a unique opportunity to work with the public at Georgian's own on-site clinics for: Oral Health, Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Esthetics, Veterinary, Speech, Hearing and Language, and Opticianry. G E O R G I A N C O L L E G E | E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y 8

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