The postsecondary education system in Alberta is described in CICIC's Postsecondary Education Systems in Canada, Provinces and Territories. The system can be divided into six categories of postsecondary program delivery:
Quality assurance mechanisms in Alberta's postsecondary education system vary by type of institution and program. They include one or more of the following:
- legislation (statutes and regulations)
- credit transfer and articulation
- external and internal review
- degree granting (Campus Alberta Quality Council)
- provincial registration and/or mandate approval/review
- professional accreditation
- other organizations (additional sources of information)
Universities
Legislation
The Post-Secondary Learning Act sets the government authority for public postsecondary education in Alberta. The act establishes public universities, approving their mandates and restricting the term "university." The act also provides the power to grant degrees to universities in specific programs. The authority of each university to govern itself through the operations of a board of governors, a senate, and a general faculties council is outlined in the Post-Secondary Learning Act. A university's general faculties council and its associated individual faculty councils are, subject to the authority of the board of governors, responsible for the academic affairs of the institution including the determination of all courses of study, the establishment of admission standards and policies, affiliations with other institutions, and academic planning.
Credit Transfer and Articulation
The Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer monitors the effectiveness of admissions and transfer policies and practices throughout the advanced education system and recommends to the department and institutions revisions of policies, guidelines, and procedures. The framework for admissions and credit transfer agreements is published in the Alberta Transfer Guide, which is printed annually and is available in a searchable database at http://www.acat.gov.ab.ca. The Online Alberta Transfer Guide is the official statement of transfer agreements duly negotiated and approved by postsecondary institutions in the province.
There are thousands of course and program transfer agreements that have been successfully negotiated between postsecondary institutions in Alberta. Through these agreements, students are able to begin study at one institution and receive credit at another institution. Institutions conduct periodic evaluation of these agreements to ensure they remain current and appropriate. Transfer agreements are documented in the Online Alberta Transfer Guide.
External and Internal Review
Universities have internal program proposal review procedures as well as periodic review of approved programs using external reviewers based on institutional policies and procedures. Proposed changes to all degree programs as well as new program proposals are submitted for approval by the minister responsible for advanced education. The approval process begins with the department's system coordination review, which focuses on how the program or proposed changes reflect the mandate of the institution and fit into the balance of other programs in the province, as well as on the institution's financial capacity to deliver the program. After a positive mandate and system coordination review, the degree program is referred to the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) for review to ensure that it is of high quality. Once the quality of the degree program has been assured, the council will recommend to the minister that the degree program be granted. The full degree program approval process is outlined at http://www.caqc.gov.ab.ca. CAQC also has the mandate to monitor degree programs once they are approved.
Professional Accreditation
Many of Canada's regulated professions have associations that conduct accreditation reviews of university programs pertaining to their professions. In these instances, accreditation teams from the professions review reports provided by the universities and may conduct on-site visits in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the professions.
Other Organizations Related to Quality Assurance in Universities
All universities in Alberta are members of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Although the association does not perform formal quality assurance functions, it does maintain membership criteria that address the primary mission of institutions, the range of program offerings, the breadth and depth of programs, the nature of members' relationship with parent institutions, the size of enrolment, institutional focus on scholarship, academic inquiry, research, and compliance with the principles of academic freedom and responsibility. Institutions applying for membership must host an AUCC visiting committee, which reports to the AUCC Board of Directors on a variety of items and recommends a decision on whether the applying institution is providing education of university standard. As a member of AUCC, the universities have confirmed their commitment to the AUCC principles of institutional quality assurance in Canadian higher education.
The Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada (AAAC) is a national organization composed of professional associations involved in promoting good practices by its members in accreditation of educational programs.
Colleges and Technical Institutes
Legislation
The Post-Secondary Learning Act establishes public colleges and technical institutes, giving each college and technical institute the authority to govern itself through the operations of a board of governors in accordance with a government approval of mandates. The act contains provisions for Alberta's colleges and technical institutes offering certificate and diploma programs, university transfer programs, applied degrees, upgrading programs, and continuing education programs. Based on a system coordination review and a positive recommendation by the Campus Alberta Quality Council, colleges and technical institutes may be approved by the minister to offer degree programs. However, there are policy restrictions on some colleges that are categorized as "comprehensive community institutions," whereby the priority is for those institutions to primarily offer degrees in collaboration with another degree-granting institution.
The act also requires that each public college and technical institute have an academic council. These councils make reports and recommendations to their boards on a variety of issues including academic policy on standards, selection and admission of students, courses, and programs of instruction. Colleges and technical institutes that meet certain regulation and policy criteria can establish an alternate academic council similar to a general faculties council at universities. This alternate academic council would replace the institution's current academic council and allow for greater engagement from faculty in academic matters.
Credit Transfer and Articulation
Colleges and technical institutes negotiate with other institutions (universities, other colleges and technical institutes) to establish the terms of specific credit transfer agreements in accordance with internal policies and practices. Essentially, by comparing program curriculum, they determine appropriate equivalencies.
The Alberta Council on Admission and Transfers assists postsecondary institutions to ensure effective transferability. The basic objective of the council is the enhancement of educational opportunities for students. The framework for admissions and transfer agreements is contained in the council's Principles, Policies, and Procedures. The council monitors the effectiveness of admissions and transfer policies and practices throughout the advanced education system and makes recommendations on revisions of policies, guidelines, and procedures. The council maintains an inventory of agreements between institutions.
There are thousands of course and program transfer agreements in place between postsecondary institutions in Alberta. Through these agreements, students are able to begin study at one institution and receive credit at another institution. Institutions conduct periodic evaluation of these agreements to ensure they remain current and appropriate. Transfer agreements are documented in the Alberta Transfer Guide.
External and Internal Review
Colleges and technical institutes initiate new program proposals and conduct internal reviews of existing programs in accordance with institutional policies and guidelines. All new program proposals and program changes must be reviewed and approved by minister responsible for advanced education. The approval process begins with the department's system coordination review, which focuses on how the program or proposed changes reflect the mandate of the institution and fit into the balance of other programs in the province, as well as on the institution's financial capacity to deliver the program. In the case of a degree proposal, after a positive mandate and system coordination review, the proposal is referred to the Campus Alberta Quality Council for review to ensure that it is of high quality. Once the quality of the degree program has been assured, the council will recommend to the minister that the degree program be granted. The full degree program approval process is outlined at http://www.caqc.gov.ab.ca. CAQC also has the mandate to monitor degree programs once they are approved.
Other Organizations Related to Quality Assurance in Colleges and Technical Institutes
All of Alberta's public colleges and technical institutes are members of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). ACCC does not perform formal quality assurance functions with respect to its members, but it does promote quality programming and the use of high academic standards by conducting research and facilitating broad discussion on quality assurance issues.
The Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada (AAAC) is a national organization composed of professional associations involved in promoting good practices by its members in accreditation of educational programs.
Private Degree-granting Institutions
Alberta has seven private institutions that are authorized by the government to offer select degree programs. Six of these institutions are not-for-profit, private, faith-based university colleges. Regardless of the institution's religious denominational affiliations, students of all faiths are welcome. The seventh private institution is a for-profit institution offering undergraduate science and business degrees.
Legislation
The Post-Secondary Learning Act gives the authority to these institutions to offer degree programs of study that are approved by the minister responsible for advanced education following a system coordination review and based on a recommendation by the Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC). Approved degree programs are subject to monitoring by CAQC. Although a few of these institutions also offer degrees in divinity, these programs are not subject to approval by the minister, nor are they reviewed and monitored by CAQC.
Credit Transfer and Articulation
The Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT) serves as a body through which stakeholders work cooperatively to ensure effective transferability of courses and programs for the benefits of students. ACAT is responsible for developing policies, guidelines, and procedures designed to facilitate transfer agreements among postsecondary institutions. An important activity of the Council is to maintain the
Alberta Transfer Guide of negotiated and approved transfer agreements between postsecondary institutions.
External and Internal Review
All degree programs that are offered by private institutions in Alberta must be approved by the minister responsible for advanced education once the institution has been designated to offer degrees by the lieutenant governor in council on recommendation of the minister. Proposals for degree programs from these institutions are subject to the same review process as public institutions. The approval process begins with the department's system coordination review, which focuses on how the program or proposed changes reflect the mandate of the institution and fit into the balance of other programs in the province, as well as on the institution's financial capacity to deliver the program. After a positive mandate and system coordination review, a degree program proposal is referred to the Campus Alberta Quality Council for review to ensure that it is of high quality. Once the quality of the degree program has been assured, the council will recommend to the minister that the degree program be granted.
Private Vocational Institutions
Legislation
The Private Vocational Training Act establishes the authority of the Director of Private Vocational Schools for the ministry responsible for advanced education to license vocational training programs in accordance with the act and to monitor the provision of these training programs. No person may provide vocational training as described in the Private Vocational Training Regulation unless the program is licensed.
As described in the Private Vocational Training Regulation, the Government of Alberta has the authority to regulate, among other things, the definition of vocation criteria for licensing, security requirements, and the advertising used for licensed programs.
Private vocational institutions may use the term "colleges" or "academics" as there is no restriction on the use of these terms. Students attending licensed programs are eligible to apply for student assistance.
External and Internal Review
Information on internal review processes may be obtained from individual private institutions offering licensed programs.
The ministry responsible for advanced education licenses vocational training programs as described within the Private Vocational Training Regulation. The ministry monitors the graduation rates and job placement rates of licensed programs. Private institutions are required to maintain acceptable graduation and job placement rates for their licensed programs in order to maintain these licenses.
Apprenticeship and Training
Legislation
The Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act and regulations provide the legislative authority for apprenticeship and industry training system. The government, through the ministry responsible for advanced education, administers the system and arranges with training establishments to provide the in-school instructional component of apprenticeship training.
The act requires that the government appoint an Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board. The board's primary responsibility is to establish the standards and requirements for training and certification in programs under the act. The board also makes recommendations to the minister responsible for advanced education about the needs of Alberta's labour market for skilled and training workers, and the designation of trades and occupations.
Alberta's apprenticeship and industry training system relies on a network of industry committees. These include local and provincial apprenticeship committees in the designated trades.
Each trade has a provincial apprenticeship committee (PAC), which provides recommendations to the board on training requirements, certification requirements, and standards for trade. The PACs are also responsible for recognizing training as equivalent to training provided in an apprenticeship program in their trade.
Local apprenticeship committees (LACs) are established by the board where there is enough activity in an area of the province to warrant a committee. LAC responsibilities include making recommendations about apprenticeship and certification to the PAC for their trade.
Staff for the ministry responsible for advanced education arrange the formal in-school instruction for all apprenticeship programs and work with PACs to develop the content of formal instruction and to develop examinations. Training establishments, mostly colleges and technical institutes, teach to the training standards set by the PACs. The ministry also administers apprenticeship examinations and maintains records of the apprentice's contract and training progress.
External and Internal Review
The apprenticeship and industry training system in Alberta operates on a three-year business cycle that includes program evaluation of the in-school portion of apprenticeship training through performance indicators such as apprenticeship and graduate satisfaction surveys and graduate employment rates. Training institutions are required to teach to the training objectives defined by the PAC in each respective trade.
Community Adult Learning Councils (CALC)
There are 83 community adult learning councils (CALCs) that support community-based initiatives in small, medium, and large communities across the province. Their programming enhances and complements other parts of the learning system in Alberta, including the postsecondary system, the secondary system, and the private education and training sector. They provide support for identifying and meeting needs in the community that are not met by others.
Relevant Legislation
Most provincial legislation can be accessed through the Internet.
Additional Sources of Information
- Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
- Communications Branch
7th Floor, Commerce Place
10155 102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4L5 Canada
Tel.: (780) 422-5400
Fax: (780) 427-0821
Web site: http://www.advancededandtech.alberta.ca/
- Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer
- 11th Floor, Commerce Place
10155-102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4L5 Canada
Tel.: (780) 422-9021
Fax: (780) 422-3688
E-mail: acat@gov.ab.ca
Web site: http://www.acat.gov.ab.ca/
- Campus Alberta Quality Council
- 11th Floor, Commerce Place
10155-102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4L5 Canada
Tel.: (780) 427-8921
Fax: (780) 427-0423
Web site: http://www.caqc.gov.ab.ca/
- Private Vocational Training Branch
- Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
10th Floor, Commerce Place
10155-102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4L5 Canada
Tel.: (780) 427-5609
Fax: (780) 427-5920
- Post-Secondary Programs Branch
- Alberta Advanced Education and Technology
11th Floor, Commerce Place
10155-102 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5J 4L5 Canada
Tel.: (780) 427-6796
Fax: (780) 427-4185
Revision: March 19, 2008