By Yasir Naqvi, MPP
I am very excited to announce the province has launched a new online education portal that will give Ontario postsecondary students access to thousands of accredited online college and university courses.
The new web portal – eCampusOntario.ca. - will give students greater flexibility to complete their courses. It is currently home to more than 13,000 online courses and includes:
– a searchable catalogue of courses offered online;
– access to 277 new and redesigned courses with transferable credits between participating institutions;
– features that easily and immediately identify credit transfer information;
– support and resources for faculty on how to design and deliver online courses; and
– academic and technical support resources for all users.
In total, Ontario is investing $72 million over five years to support the development and operation of eCampusOntario.ca.. All 45 publicly-assisted colleges and universities across the province are offering online courses on the web portal, including Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, Algonquin College and La Cité Collegiale.
eCampusOntario.ca. will allow learners to find online courses by browsing, searching by keyword, or filtering by institution and delivery format. Course details include links to information about scheduling, tuition and fees, instructors, and information about how to register or to seek credit transfer. Previously identified course equivalencies are also listed where available. In addition, students can search based on a specific course for which they need credit or to find available online options at other institutions.
Even more exciting – this program will continue to grow! Colleges and universities are adding new online courses and programs and the Government of Ontario has provided special funding to support further development in order to improve opportunities for learners. The portal will be updated and enhanced to improve functionality including more extensive course and program information, greater personalization and expanded student services.
Students who may be new to online learning can browse the eCampusOntario.ca. suite of Student Supports. These supports have been selected by a committee of representatives from colleges and universities to aid learners in basic study skills, writing and math. Users will also find a selection of administrative resources, including links to information about financial support and studying in Canada as an international student.
I am really excited about the launch of eCampusOntario.ca.. The volume of variety of courses available means that students of all ages across the province can tap into their area of interest, expand their knowledge base and access courses they may not be able to get close to home.
Providing postsecondary students with a higher quality, more flexible online learning experience is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario by making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history, investing in people’s talents and skills, creating a dynamic, supportive environment where business thrives and building a secure retirement savings plan.
For further information about eCampusOntario.ca. or to learn more about post-secondary supports in Ontario, please contact my Community Office at ynaqvi.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or 613-722-6414.
