The Role of Colleges and Institutes in Canada

Colleges and institutes are distinguished by a range of titles including community college, institute of technology, cégep and university college. There are over 150 colleges and institutes serving up to 900 urban and rural communities located across the country.

These institutions offer diploma, certificate, university transfer and applied degree programs. Full-time and part-time programs are offered in areas such as health, business, technology, trades, academic upgrading, applied and creative arts, social services, hospitality and university preparation. Colleges and institutes also offer adult education and upgrading and employment-related programs such as apprenticeship. Part-time and evening courses are offered through continuing education departments.

In Canada, education is a provincial or territorial responsibility therefore colleges and institutes across the country vary in mandate. However they share the primary functions of responding to the training needs of business, industry, the public service sectors and the educational needs of vocationally oriented secondary school graduates. Colleges and institutes typically provide a more job-related curriculum than universities, featuring smaller classes, off-campus course delivery, a greater ratio of laboratory space to classroom space, a more interactive teaching style and more inclusive entry criteria.

Given the employment oriented nature of the education and training programs offered by colleges and institutes, these institutions can support newcomers in their integration into Canadian communities.

ACCC Report: Canadian Colleges and Institutes Responding to the Needs of Immigrants (Adobe PDF - 53 pages, 300kb)
March 2004