SUMMERSIDE - A new partnership between Holland College, Government of Prince Edward Island and Bluedrop Performance learning will allow Island businesses to benefit from free, online professional development course bundles, says Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach.
“The new eForcePEI partnership will provide learning opportunities to small and medium-sized businesses and allow Island enterprises to become more productive and more competitive,” Roach said. “This is a vital part of the Island economy and eForcePEI will allow us to help business people learn in a way that is cost-effective and widely accessible.”
eForcePEI will use Bluedrop’s online learning platform, CoursePark.com, to provide access to courses from leading publishers and subject experts.
“Under the two-year agreement, Island companies and individuals will have access to 2,000 free on line courses,” the minister said. “We expect the eFrorce service to be very valuable to businesses and organizations that what to help their employers ands employees learn new skill, master technologies or prepare for increasing responsibilities within the workforce.”
He said business will benefit from a system that allows them to offer professional development to workers in a format that they can fit around their work and family demands and schedules.
“Individuals will benefit from accessible training that increases their education but also their value as employees,” Roach said. We can all see the potential in the service that allows businesses to help employees to better themselves.”
The courses are expected to appeal to small and medium-sized business, non-profit organizations, as well as to individuals interested in improving their skills and knowledge.
Brian McMillan, president of Holland College said, the college is pleased to partner with the Province of Prince Edward Island and Bluedrop to deliver this initiative.
“At Holland College, we are well aware that human resources are our most important asset,” he said. “We are committed to supporting the sustainability of our province by providing training opportunities in a variety of ways to give all Islanders the ability to participate in life-long learning. eForcePEI fits well with fulfilling this mandate.”
McMillan said it is vital for small and medium size businesses to ensure their employees have the training to take advantage of all opportunities.
“Now, more than ever, we have to ensure that Prince Edward Island remains competitive in the increasingly crowded market,” he said “The eForcePEI will help Island companies to do that and yes, for free. That doesn’t happen too often today. There are a variety of modules on the website from which businesses and other companies may choose based upon their suitability from human resources to finance, to accounting essentials to operation management.”
An eForce representative will be traveling around the province to explain the initiative in more detail over the coming months.
SkillsPEI is supporting this project with $275,000 in support for Bluedrop and a further $242,000 to help Holland College with delivery and promotion of the eForcePEI initiative. Funding is provided under the Labour Market Development Agreement.
