Confederation, Northern and Fleming Colleges Partner to Offer GIS Programs

An innovative new partnership among Confederation College, Northern College and Fleming College will allow students in Thunder Bay and Timmins to access Fleming’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs in their own community.

The GIS – Applications Specialist and GIS – Cartographic Specialist programs are full-time, ten-month, post-graduate programs traditionally offered at Fleming’s School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Frost Campus in Lindsay.

Via leading-edge web conferencing technology, the students at Confederation and Northern colleges will participate in the program synchronously, beginning in September.  They will be in the same “class,” taking the same courses delivered by Fleming faculty, at the same time as their peers located in Lindsay.

The partnership aims to minimize barriers for students to achieve an Ontario college graduate certificate in this in-demand field of study by enhancing access through program delivery.

“This initiative involves bringing opportunities to students rather than requiring students to relocate. It is part of the future of education and I am proud to work with Confederation and Northern to make it happen,” said Tony Tilly, President,  Fleming College.

Confederation and Northern colleges both indicate that GIS is an important component of Northern Ontario’s economy.

“The mining exploration and forestry industries, two cornerstones of our local communities, require individuals with specialized GIS training,” said Fred Gibbons, President of Northern College. “Fleming has a very strong reputation in this area of study. It was natural for us to build upon our previously established partnership with Fleming to create a pathway for students in northern Ontario to access this best-in-class post-secondary training.”

“GIS is used extensively throughout northwestern Ontario in a variety of sectors including natural resources and health care,” said Confederation College President Jim Madder. “This partnership allows students from northwestern Ontario to enrol in this excellent program right here at home and gain new skills that employers are looking for.”

For more information, please contact Shawn Morgan, Project Lead (Fleming College), at shawn.morgan@flemingcollege.ca or 1-866-353-6464 ext. 3012.