Loyalist College continues to evolve

The President and CEO of Loyalist College says colleges produce the people who are needed in the workforce.

Mark Kirkpatrick was on CJBQ’s Lorne Brooker show Tuesday.

Kirkpatrick says, for the most part, in 2023 there is no longer the stigma of college being less than university.

He says Loyalist works hard to align their programming with the job market that’s prevalent in this area.

“You know you see us working really hard to create more trades program and more trades opportunities. A lot of work in health care. We work really closely with, whether it be private businesses or industry partners like Quinte Health Care to say, like, what do you need? And then we’ll develop the programs.”

Kirkpatrick calls Quinte Health Care a great example as it needs more than just nurses.

The school has adopted several programs related to all aspects of health care.

However, one of the strengths of their nursing program is that it is now a degree program.

Kirkpatrick adds they are working on adding other degree programs meaning people don’t have to leave the region to earn a degree.

Keeping our young people in the region and enticing those who study here to stay are big goals for Loyalist.

“This whole concept of study and stay is really, I think everybody kind of gets it now. That students, that once they study for a number of years in a particular locale they get used to that locale, and they actually call it home and they don’t want to leave. So if they can find a job in their field, they’re gonna stay.”

Kirkpatrick says international students now make up a big part of Loyalist College and are not just attracted to one or two programs but study in every program the College offers.

He says about half of Loyalist’s approximately 4,000 students are international students, with 90 per cent of those international students coming from India.

However, Kirkpatrick says that is changing.

“This fall we’ll see that number come down a number of percentage points. We’ve seen a lot more interest from other countries. We’re getting a spike from Nepal, we’re getting a spike of students from Nigeria.”

Kirkpatrick says the College offers an extensive pre-education program to prepare international students for studying in the Quinte region offering information on everything from the weather, to cost expectations, to what to expect living in a smaller community.

The College has also adapted to a more multi-cultural environment offering foods and activities that appeal to its more diverse student body.

And while Loyalist offers many activities to help international students learn about their new home, he says domestic students are also keen to learn about other cultures.

Kirkpatrick says record enrolment at Loyalist has given the College a surplus.

He says this will help Loyalist build up its reserves to reinvest in the institution, including infrastructure, staff and programs.

It can cost two to three million dollars to add a new program.

Kirkpatrick invites the public to visit the campus and see what they offer.