Adult learning system principles

Overview

Alberta’s adult learning system is guided by the vision of a world-class post-secondary system that equips Albertans with the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to succeed in their lifelong pursuits. The system will be highly responsive to labour market needs and, through innovative programming and excellence in research, contribute to the betterment of an innovative and prosperous Alberta.

This vision is focused on ensuring every Albertan has the skills they need to succeed and is guided by 7 principles:

High quality

A high‑quality system ensures students are well‑prepared for work or for further learning and can develop the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to contribute to Alberta’s society and succeed in the labour market.

Accessible

An accessible system ensures all Albertans are able to plan a career path and receive post‑secondary education regardless of their location or barriers.

Affordable

An affordable system ensures finances do not limit any Albertan from accessing post‑secondary education.

Accountable

An accountable system ensures all Albertans have access to clear information about linkages between labour markets and post‑secondary education programs and in which post‑secondary providers are effectively governed, financially sustainable, fiscally responsible and collaborative with their communities, government and each other.

Coordinated

A coordinated system ensures programs are integrated and diverse, without being duplicative or redundant, and in which the roles of students, educators, providers, industry and government are clearly articulated and differentiated within a collaborative governance model.

Parity of esteem

Apprenticeship education is as valuable, useful and respectable as other forms of post‑secondary education, and experiential learning is as important to post‑secondary education as academic learning.

Global excellence

The Government of Alberta is committed to ensuring that Alberta’s post‑secondary institutions continue to build on their record of global excellence in post‑secondary research and innovation and that they continue contributing to the economic diversification of the province by promoting and strengthening the commercialization of post‑secondary research.