AU partnership with GAC, TÉLUQ, expanded
Even more Global Affairs Canada employees have access to additional training with the expansion of a partnership with Athabasca University and the French-language Université TÉLUQ.
A partnership the three organizations signed in 2019 allowed the Trade Commissioner Service, in conjunction with the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, to provide Canadian university courses to all staff working in Canada and abroad via the University Credit Access Program (UCAP).
Michael Shouldice, Manager of Partnerships and Collaborations at AU, said after a successful first year that saw Canadian learners all over the world take courses with AU, the partnership has been expanded from 600 employees to all 6,500 Global Affairs Canada employees.
“I’m proud of this partnership, which highlights that no matter where you are in the world, you’re in the right place to study at AU,” he said. “And since the partnership includes TÉLUQ, learners in either of Canada’s national languages are able to pursue their academic dreams from wherever they are.”
Online learning
The English-language courses are delivered through AU’s distance-learning platform, which is designed to meet the needs of distance learners anywhere in the world, and can be completed from any locations where Canada has a mission. TÉLUQ will provide French-language courses.
Global Affairs Canada created UCAP in response to requests from staff who wanted more learning opportunities to meet the needs of staff serving abroad. In particular, locally engaged Trade Commissioners expressed an interest in courses that would help them better understand Canada, its history, culture, political system, and economy.
A selection of courses at AU and TÉLUQ have been identified. At AU, this includes undergraduate-level courses within the Faculty of Business and the Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences.
Partnership expansion
Julie Carle, Director of External Affairs and Secretary General at Université TÉLUQ, said the institution is pleased with the expansion of the partnership.
“Considering the national and international context of uncertainty attributable to the COVID-19 crisis, we can only welcome the vision as well as the strong signal in favor of distance continuing education delivered by a Canadian leader such as Global Affairs Canada,” she said.
This partnership supports AU’s strategic plan, Imagine: Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities, as learning opportunities go beyond place, breaking down barriers to accessing and succeeding in a university-level program.
