The postsecondary education system in Nova Scotia is described in CICIC's Postsecondary Education Systems in Canada, Provinces and Territories. The system can be divided into four categories of postsecondary program delivery:
Quality assurance mechanisms in Nova Scotia's postsecondary education system vary by type of institution and program. They include
- legislation (statutes and regulations)
- affiliation
- credit transfer and articulation
- external and internal review
- professional accreditation
- other organizations related to quality assurance
Universities and University Colleges
Legislation
Nova Scotia's degree-granting institutions are either universities or university colleges. Each institution is established by individual statute. The authority of each institution to govern itself through the operations of a board of governors and in some cases a senate is outlined in these statutes, their regulations, and bylaws established by their boards of governors. In most cases, Nova Scotia universities have the authority to determine all matters relating to programs, qualifications of employees, and all other matters deemed to be in the interest of the institutions. Statutes establishing individual institutions do not contain explicit reference to mechanisms for or accountabilities pertaining to quality assurance of educational programming. Program quality responsibilities are implied through the powers and duties assigned to institutions' internal governing bodies.
The Degree Granting Act protects the integrity of Nova Scotia university credentials by providing the provincial government with sole authority to authorize the province's degree-granting institutions. Under this statute, the minister may also require an inspection of any private institution if there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the institution has contravened the Degree Granting Act or its regulations.
The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) was established in 1974 as an agency of the Council of Atlantic Premiers and acts as a regional agency for postsecondary education in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Act was enacted in all three provinces establishing the commission.
In 1997, the ministers of education in the Maritime provinces agreed to renew and refocus the commission's mandate through "An Agreement Respecting the Renewal of Arrangements for Regional Cooperation Concerning Post-Secondary Education." Under this agreement, the commission has the responsibility for quality assurance, data and information collection, cooperative action, and regional programs. In January 2005, the new MPHEC Act was proclaimed in each of the Maritime Provinces giving force to the Commission's new mandate.
Affiliation
A formal affiliation exists between the Atlantic School of Theology and Saint Mary's University. A formal arrangement exists between the Canadian Coast Guard College and the Cape Breton University. The Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the University of King's College are associated with Dalhousie University.
Credit Transfer and Articulation
Nova Scotia has no systematic, province-wide process for conducting credit transfers to and from universities and colleges. The flexibility and details of credit transfer procedures vary by institution. Generally speaking, requests from students for credit transfers from one university program to another, as well as to and from community college programs, are initially reviewed at the receiving institution by faculty and senior program staff. Reviews are often conducted on a course-by-course basis and involve negotiations concerning such factors as the content, level, evaluation component, and instructor qualifications for each course. Decisions made by receiving institutions are final.
Articulation agreements are in place between some Nova Scotia universities and the province's community college. Through these agreements, specific academic programs are jointly developed, delivery is shared, and the universities grant the degrees. The quality of these joint programs is protected through the articulation agreements and the program review process at each institution.
External and Internal Review
The quality of Nova Scotia's university programs is addressed in three additional ways. First, programs are evaluated by the university's own process of self-study and review conducted in accordance with internal policies and procedures. Second, the MPHEC reviews new or modified academic programs prior to implementation to assure that programs meet agreed-upon standards of quality. The third major quality assurance activity is the MPHEC's monitoring of quality assurance policies used by institutions assess the quality of existing programs. The specific objective of the MPHEC monitoring function is to ascertain that the policies and procedures used by institutions to assess the quality of existing programs are performing adequately as quality control and quality improvement mechanisms. A key outcome of the process is to provide assistance and advice to institutions on ways to enhance their current quality assurance policy and procedures. Full details on quality assurance procedures used by the MPHEC are available on their Web site.
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
Nova Scotia universities belong to 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, and research, and compliance with the principles of academic freedom and responsibility. Institutions applying for membership must host an AUCC Visiting Committee that 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.
The Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada (AAAC) is a national organization composed of professional associations involved in accreditation of educational programs. Information on the activities of these professions with colleges and universities can be accessed through the AAAC Web site.
Colleges
Legislation
The Community Colleges Act establishes the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). (Collège de l'Acadie merged with Université Sainte-Anne in 2002.) As established by legislation, quality assurance of educational programs is a shared responsibility between the provincial government and NSCC's governing body. NSCC has responsibility for "enhancing the economic and social well-being of the province by meeting the occupational training requirements of the population and the labour market of the province." The college is also mandated to participate in joint programs with respect to education and training and related services developed and delivered in conjunction with other postsecondary institutions and educational bodies.
The Community Colleges Act establishes a board of governors as the governing body of the NSCC. Among the boards responsibilities are
- establishing programs of study,
- providing for the granting of community college certificates and diplomas (the college does not grant degrees),
- publishing an annual academic report on enrolment, attrition, graduation, and graduate employment placement,
- evaluating programs of study on a regular basis in accordance with guidelines approved by the minister,
- conducting, at least every five years, special organizational and operational reviews in accordance with guidelines approved by the minister.
On the recommendation of the minister, the government may appoint an administrator of a community college if the board of governors takes up a practice or tolerates a situation incompatible with the mandate of the college or the act or if in the opinion of the minister, it is otherwise in the public interest to do so.
Under the Community Colleges Act, the minister is responsible for approving guidelines for conducting internal reviews of existing programs. Approval of all new programs also rests with the minister. The minister may appoint and give extensive inspection powers to a person or committee to review and evaluate any program offered by the colleges, their mandates, or any other matter relating to the development, content, or delivery of a program by the colleges. Finally, the college is required to submit to the department, annual reports that must include audited financial statements and any other information that the minister requests. The minister must in turn, table the reports in the provincial Legislature.
The Community Colleges Act also establishes college program advisory committees primarily composed of representatives from industry. These committees are responsible for advising the board of governors and making recommendations regarding new and existing programs of study.
Affiliation
The Nova Scotia Community College has a number of formal affiliations with universities. For further information contact individual institutions.
Credit Transfer and Articulation
In July 2000 the colleges of the four Atlantic provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) signed a memorandum of understanding to "maximize the recognition and transfer of learning acquired through formal education, workplace training, and work and life experience." In accordance with this memorandum, member colleges have agreed to transfer credits for all courses to approved programs delivered by other members.
Credit transfers between Nova Scotia's community colleges and non-Atlantic community colleges and universities are considered by program and administrative staff on a course-by-course basis that includes such factors as a review of course content, student evaluation methods, and instructor qualifications.
External and Internal Review
In accordance with the Community Colleges Act, existing community college programs are evaluated internally by college program staff on a regular basis for updating and to ensure relevance to the demands of the marketplace.
All new community college programs are also subject to review and approval by the department, whose staff examine proposals from a content perspective as well as in relation to institutional capacity and market demand.
Professional Accreditation
Many of Canada's regulated professions have associations that conduct accreditation reviews of college programs pertaining to their professions. In these instances, accreditation teams from the professions review reports provided by the colleges and may conduct on-site visits in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the professions.
Apprenticeship
Legislation
The Apprenticeship Program in Nova Scotia consists of a combination of practical training in the workplace and in-class or Internet technical training. The Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act and General Regulations is the legislative authority for the apprenticeship system. Under the act, the Apprenticeship Board is appointed by the minister of education and acts in an advisory capacity to the minister. The board makes recommendations to the minister on any matters relating to the apprenticeship system such as the designation of new trades. The board also conducts research, organizes forums on matters related to apprenticeship, and assists in promoting the benefits of apprenticeship. The board may, in consultation with the Director, Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development, appoint an ad hoc advisory committee to seek advice from industry on any matters concerning the apprenticeship system.
Under the General Regulations made pursuant to the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act, the government has authority to prescribe the standards, length, content, and number of technical training classes to be completed by an apprentice or persons eligible for related post-journeyperson upgrade training. This work is conducted by staff of the Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development Division, Department of Education.
Individual trade regulations specify the practical requirements for each designated trade. They also specify other terms and conditions related to each particular trade that will apply in conjunction with the General Regulations.
External and Internal Review
Nova Scotia Community College is the primary deliverer of apprenticeship training. It provides both traditional classroom and on-line options for apprentices. The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry, Local 56, delivers training for one trade, as does the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. In practice, department staff work with these training providers to develop training standards and examination item banks based on the national occupational analysis for the trade. All training standards, program structure, records of occupational progress, and examination items banks are validated by industry.
An Interprovincial Standards "Red Seal" Program promotes and facilitates the standardization of apprenticeship training in all Canadian jurisdictions. The Red Seal program was developed in cooperation with the federal government to standardize trade skill requirements and provide greater interjurisdictional employment mobility for certified journeypersons. A provincial Certificate of Qualification bearing the Red Seal provides recognition that a national standard has been met. Through this program the national occupational analyses are updated regularly to reflect technological advances in the trades. These serve as the base document for the development of the interprovincial examinations set for Red Seal trades.
Other Organizations Related to Quality Assurance in Colleges and Apprenticeship
The Nova Scotia Community College is a member of the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). ACCC does not perform formal quality assurance functions, 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.
The Atlantic Provinces Community College Consortium (APCCC) was established in 1998 as an informal consortium of departments and institutions to enhance cooperation across the community colleges in the four Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. The activities, initiatives, and projects of the consortium are designed to reflect the values and principles agreed to by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC). Key areas of performance expectations that reflect these values include quality and accountability. The primary activities of the APCCC include sharing information, issues, and solutions and generally promoting consistency, cooperation, joint initiatives, and transferability across institutions. The impact of the consortium on program quality is indirect.
The Atlantic Apprenticeship Council (AAC) is made up of the four directors of apprenticeship and the chairs of the four provincial apprenticeship boards. It is a forum for sharing common concerns, best practices, and opportunities for cooperation among the Atlantic provinces. Detailed information about initiatives in the Atlantic provinces that enhance apprenticeship systems such as essential skills, prior learning assessment and recognition, promotion to diversity groups, and youth apprenticeship is shared and propels such initiatives to multiply in the region. The primary focus of the AAC since 1998 has been the development of common technical training standards, now complete in 22 trades. This initiative ensures consistent standards of achievement and facilitates mobility of apprentices in the region.
Private Training Institutions
Legislation
The Private Career Colleges Regulation Act sets out requirements for the registration of private postsecondary training institutions in Nova Scotia. No private postsecondary training school may operate in the province unless it has a certificate of registration issued by the Department of Education or exempt under the legislation.
Through the regulations under the Private Career Colleges Regulation Act, the department has authority to prescribe the qualifications for instructors, entrance requirements for students, and impose industry standards for curriculum,. The department also sets the parameters around professional development for instructors.
Students who attend training programs registered with the department may be eligible to apply for student financial assistance.
External and Internal Review
Private career colleges register with the Department of Education and submit detailed documentation on all new, proposed programs for approval by the department in relation to items such as content and curriculum, instructor qualifications, organizational capacity to deliver, and all other matters listed in the regulations. The department also conducts reviews of registered colleges on an annual basis and has extensive powers of inspection.
For information on internal review process, contact the individual institutions.
Relevant Legislation
Most provincial legislation can be accessed through the Internet.
Additional Sources of Information
- Department of Education
- P.O. Box 578
2021 Brunswick Street, Suite 402
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2S9 Canada
Tel: (902) 424-5168 Fax: (902) 424-0511
Web site: http://www.ednet.ns.ca/
List of recognized degree-granting and non-degree-granting postsecondary institutions in Nova Scotia
Revision: 4 February 2008