in Nova Scotia Building on a successful Provincial Model Mike - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Pathways Program in Nova Scotia Building on a successful Provincial Model Mike Rosson (NSISP) Mike Hennigar (EduNova)

What is a pathway? • A pathway on a technical level merely denotes the transition from secondary to post-secondary studies • Pathways agreements can be actively defined by institutions or entirely informal • Pathways are always multi-faceted, incorporating market needs with institutional preferences and regulatory requirements.

Nova Scotia Landscape Provincial Education Cooperative (EduNova). History of cooperation and collegiality across sectors 1,400 high school students in Provincial Public High School Program (NSISP) Large number of universities and shrinking demographic of Nova Scotian students Small province where all post-secondary institutions are located within a 4 hour drive

EduNova Pathways Video

Why its strategic to recruit NSISP Students 1. They are in your backyard = less expensive to recruit 2. They have already chosen Nova Scotia as a study option for high school and therefore are more likely to consider staying 3. They are indoctrinated into the local culture and education system 4. They are less likely to drop out because of academic or cultural reasons 5. They are more likely to stay in the region after they graduate because they have roots in their community

What has worked • Having a consistent and standardized agreement in place to promote • Identifying students who are legitimately interested in staying in the province for post-secondary studies in a time sensitive manner • Familiarization Tours that allow all schools to promote their school and campuses • Having consistent statistical analysis to track trends and whether these initiatives are working • Universities that respond quickly to students and simplify the process

What hasn’t worked • Hosting students on one campus and inviting other post- secondary institutions to attend • Sending students to universities based on the region they are studying in • Not doing the work to identify students who are legitimately interested (scatter shot approach) • Hosting the events too late. ie: for Grade 12 students it has to be in the fall otherwise they have already applied elsewhere • Speaking to an international student like they are a domestic one.

Tracking Results Year Total number of Total number of NSISP Total number of NSISP graduating students Students studying in graduating students Canada going to university in Nova Scotia 2016-17 212 32 (15%) 56 (26.5%) 2015-16 178 31 (17.5%) 41 (23%) 2014-15 152 52(34.7%) 36 (23.7%)

Plan moving forward • Two tours per year: – Grade 12’s in November – Grade 11’s in April/May • Inviting NSISP HSC on EduNova Counsellor Familiarization Tours • Presenting to new NSISP students at orientations and email blast in the fall with pathways agreement and information on familiarization tours • Inviting EduNova and university representatives to our HSC Conference to promote their institutions and get to know the homestay coordinators

Wish List • To have a stream in the EduNova Study and Stay specifically tailored for NSISP students • NSISP specific scholarships for our students • Common agreements with agents to incentivize agents to keep their students in Nova Scotia once they graduate from high school • International Leadership Certificate for Nova Scotian students. Credit for students for global focused courses, additional language acquisition courses and internationally focused activities.

Case Study: Brazil - Nova Scotia • Sharing agents incentivizes use of the NSISP – PSE Pathway • Partnering with school group allows focus in complex market • Student experience on campus increases ‘stickiness’ • Visits to market reinforce both NSISP and PSE opportunities • PSE recruitment costs are reduced

Current Student FAM Tour Model • Promotion of universities and FAM Tours at Orientation. • Evaluation of students according to their interest in staying in the province. • Two annual tours per year. Grade 12’s in November and Grade 11’s in the Fall. • Every university/college has the chance to host the students and show off their campus and offerings • Continuous evaluation and statistical analysis