Students throughout Alberta have the opportunity to learn about Entrepreneurship while earning high school and college credits at the same time thanks to a dual credit partnership between Northern Lights Public Schools and Portage College.
Northern Lights and Portage piloted Entrepreneurship 105 with students at Cold Lake High School, Bonnyville Centralized High School and J.A. Williams High School in February 2016. This year, the course is being opened to school jurisdictions from throughout Alberta in the second semester (February-June 2017).
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this opportunity to students in Northern Lights and share it with students throughout Alberta,” said Northern Lights Board Chair Mandi Skogen. “We know through the feedback we have received that students and their parents want us to provide opportunities that expose students to career opportunitiesand help prepare them for their future. This course will provide them with post-secondary credits and provide them with knowledge they can apply to whatever career they pursue in the future.”
Students who enroll in Entrepreneurship 105 can earn five Career and Technology credits at the high school level, as well as three post-secondary credits from Portagethat can also be transferred to Athabasca University or The King’s University. Up to 40 students can enroll in the course from any school jurisdiction in Alberta.
“The course is delivered online and students can work through it at their own pace,” explained Mark Centazzo, Dual Credit Coordinator for Northern Lights Public Schools. “It provides great flexibility for students and schools.”
The development of the dual credit Entrepreneurship 105 program was funded through a Provincial Dual Credit Strategy (PCDS) grant from the Dual Credit Steering Committee. Funding for the PDCS was provided by the Government of Alberta, through a cross-ministry strategy involving Alberta Education, Advanced Education, and Labour (formerly Human Services).