Education/training
Colleges get an A, grads sayMiriam Streiman recently graduated from chef school at George Brown College. |
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 [ 2007-06-13 ] |
© 2007 Jupiterimages Corporation
The 26-year-old culinary student has worked for Mildred Pierce, the Food Network and has even made an impression on Jamie Kennedy.
"I've had the most incredible experience working during my internships and part-time work. I owe it all to the contacts I've made through George Brown College," said Streiman, 26.
A survey released in April found that 90% of college graduates found employment within six months of graduation.
In terms of satisfaction, 77% of the students were satisfied with the overall quality of services, programming and resources available to them, and 82% of the students were satisfied with the usefulness of their college education in achieving their goals after graduation.
The survey -- commissioned by the Ontario government and Colleges Ontario -- found that 93% of the 8,400 employers surveyed were satisfied with graduates hired within the past year.
"CLOSE CONNECTION"
"It's a great confirmation of the important role Ontario college graduates play in our economy and the close connection between college programs and employers," said Barbara Taylor, chairman of the committee of presidents for Colleges Ontario.
"Employers are looking at the ability of Ontario colleges to meet the labour market needs to find qualified hires to the manufacturing, resource based and skilled trades sectors," Taylor said.
Jeffrey Mitchell, a project manager at Co-ed Communications Inc., graduated from George Brown College in 2000 and landed a job with the educational consulting firm after his internship.
"When you take a placement, you have the opportunity to practise what you learn," Mitchell said.
Mitchell said Co-ed Communications has hired a number of interns from George Brown in recent years.
"We've definitely had some great success with George Brown students coming here. For the most part, 98% of students we've had here, we've been satisfied with the work they've done with us," Mitchell said.
There are 44,000 students who graduate from Ontario's 24 colleges and institutes of technology and applied learning each year.
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