People interested in earning an education degree from the University of Calgary can now complete most of the program at Lakeland College's Lloydminster campus thanks to an enhanced partnership.

Lakeland and the UCalgary Werklund School of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides a framework to deliver UCalgary's community-based Bachelor of Education (BEd) program to Lakeland's university transfer students.

The community-based BEd program will allow Lakeland students the opportunity to train to be a teacher, complete practicums and launch their teaching career all in Lloydminster.

“We know there is an appetite for education degrees with our students. We're thrilled to offer a community-based option for them to achieve their goals by transferring their Lakeland credits to Werklund School of Education to earn a UCalgary degree,” says Jackie Bender, dean of university transfer and foundational learning at Lakeland. “Providing our students with more degree completion options is one of Lakeland's priorities. Being able to provide this degree completion pathway at the Lloydminster campus is exciting as our region will retain and benefit from quality educators.”

The four-year BEd program allows students to remain in Lloydminster for the majority of their studies, while receiving instruction and advisory support from UCalgary. Students will gain teaching experience locally through 20 weeks of field experience practicum placements. Lakeland students can transfer up to 57 credits to the program.

"The collaboration between Lakeland College and the Werklund School is just one example of the ways in which post-secondary institutions can come together for the betterment of students and their communities,” highlights Amy Burns, associate-dean of Undergraduate Programs at the Werklund School of Education. “By providing a pathway for Lakeland students to enter UCalgary's community-based BEd degree, we can ensure students are receiving a high quality, robust educational experience with excellent instructional and experiential opportunities on par with our on-campus program, while allowing students to remain in and positively impact their home communities."

Both Lakeland and Werklund School of Education will also work together to support applicants during the admissions process and throughout the program, as per the MOU. Together, both will also seek opportunities for funding support for students admitted into the program.

More than 50 of Lakeland's university transfer courses were recently reviewed and approved for credit by UCalgary.

Lakeland has negotiated credit transfer options with a number of universities across Western Canada and beyond.