Valley students hoping to become teachers will now be able to get their degrees at home instead of travelling to Nanaimo or Victoria for their studies.
Vancouver Island University's Cowichan Campus will offer a five-year Bachelor of Education degree program starting September 2014.
Harry Janzen, VIU's dean of education said, "This is quite an achievement. These students will need to take other courses, not just education courses, too, and that will enable Cowichan to offer more courses generally for everybody."
It's going to open up opportunities as well as making it easier to get to classes.
"People have gone to Cowichan for some courses [before this] and then come into our education program here in Nanaimo. But now it will all be available through Cowichan," Janzen said. "For people from the south end of our catchment area it's going to be much more convenient."
Asked if there is still a call for teachers with schools closing, Janzen said there is.
"The job market on Vancouver Island is fairly tight though very many of our students still get jobs here but for others who are willing to travel afield always, there is still work available. We want to offer programs that will lead to something. "We're not adding a new program overall at VIU. We're moving part of our program down there. We're not actually increasing the number of teachers that we graduate every year."
Tina McComb, interim director of enrolment management at VIU, said, "We're excited to offer this program in Cowichan and improve access to education for local students and those living in surrounding communities."
McComb said some students may prefer the smaller, more intimate learning environment offered at the Cowichan campus. Some students will also have the option of saving money by living at home and not having to commute to Nanaimo.
According to Education Advisor David Sufrin, Bachelor of Education students will have opportunities to complete practicum assignments in various schools throughout the Cowichan region, elsewhere in B.C., and even internationally.
In some cases, these experiences lead to permanent teaching jobs.
Sufrin will lead an information session for students interested in finding out more about the program.
The session takes place Nov. 27 from noon until 1 p.m. in Room 215 at the Cowichan campus. Free pizza will be available.
