Ontario has committed $22 million to support a new Centre for Collaborative Education at Durham College, located in Oshawa. The centre will improve student access to innovative programs and will replace the college’s historic Simcoe Building, which was built in 1969 and cannot accommodate expansion through the addition of more levels.
The investment will help the college build a facility that will increase the number of practical programs, hands-on learning opportunities and real-world lab experiences offered to students.
Among the centre’s features are a business incubator to connect young entrepreneurs with local experts and give them the resources required to develop their ideas and launch start-ups; modern classrooms and labs for the college’s health programs, along with new programs in behavioural science and pharmacy; and space for the Global Class initiative, which provides interactive online lectures that connect students with experts and peers from around the world in real time.
This contribution is part of the $3 billion in capital grants that the province is providing to postsecondary institutions over the next 10 years. Since 2003, Ontario has invested $3.6 billion in capital funding for Ontario colleges and universities.
“The Ontario government is proud to support this new infrastructure at Durham College, which will provide students with a variety of innovative options for practical education geared towards current industry demands,” said Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, in a press release. “The Centre for Collaborative Education will replace an aging building and provide Durham College with the classroom and lab space it needs to focus on interdisciplinary applied learning, experiential learning opportunities and initiatives that will connect students with subject-matter experts around the world. This centre will directly support our government’s priority to grow Ontario’s economy and create good jobs.”
The Centre for Collaborative Education is a legacy project that will take place during Durham College’s 50th anniversary year.
