Government of Canada

Access to Post-Secondary Transition Programs for Aboriginal Students

On behalf of the Algonquin College Access Program, we conducted research to examine and define Indigenous student needs with respect to access, financial assistance, childcare, and career services.

Client

Government of Canada

Working at the behest of the Federal Government’s Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC, now ERSDC), HESA examined transition and bridging programs available to Aboriginal students across Canada.  The purpose of the research described in this report was to develop a better understanding of access programs available to Aboriginal students in Canada as they transition to post-secondary education.

Using interviews with program directors from 50 Canadian post-secondary institutions, from 10 provinces and 1 territory, we categorized institutions program offering by type.  HESA staff designed the interview instrument, conducted the conversations, recorded and scored the results.  These categorized offerings became the basis for an in-depth qualitative and quantitative study on factors related to program success.  This analysis formed the basis for a comprehensive report, and presentation, discussing policy and procedural gaps with respect to Aboriginal student access, policy recommendations, and an analysis of the feasibility of instituting pan-Canadian program structures that might increase access to transition programs for Aboriginal Canadians.