CALGARY – A group of delegates from seven African countries are making a stop at Bow Valley College during a visit to Calgary’s Global Petroleum Show this week. The prestigious representatives were invited by Alberta’s International Development Office (AIDO) and College executives.

Representatives from Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Egypt and South Africa will be joined by Canadian and Alberta government representatives to meet with Bow Valley College executives and coordinators to discuss engagement and training for the energy, mining and education sectors.

The goal is to learn more about how Bow Valley College can provide and assist with more capacity building in their countries. ‘Capacity building’ focuses on expanding management, knowledge, skills, training, technology, education and economic investment to support emergent growth in a country. Building strong relationships with Bow Valley College also provides unique Western economic and academic perspectives, which can also assist with understanding how to navigate expanding global trade, culture and commerce.

“The group is very interested in learning about Bow Valley College’s distinct expertise in Workplace Essential Skills (WES) and Petroleum Industry Management Certificate (PIMC),” says Tristan Cole, International Development Officer. “Some of these developing nations are rich in resources and potential, but often face high levels of unemployment due to lack of training and education resources. We’re looking forward to discussing significant partnerships to help move their plans for growth and prosperity forward.”

Building Bridges of Global Education and Skills

Bow Valley College is no stranger to creating dynamic partnerships with countries and communities around the world. For 30 years, we’ve implemented international initiatives through development projects and contract training in competency, entrepreneurship, literacy and workplace skills including:

• In rural Cameroon, Bow Valley College supported the Cameroonian Collège Bullier de Sa’a (CB) in the creation of a training program that benefited local entrepreneurs, and was contextualized to local community needs.
• Bow Valley College provided Community Development, Competency Based Education and Training (CBET), Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Workplace Essential Skills in Namibia.
• In Libya, Bow Valley College provided Industry Skills Training, Leadership and Management Capacity Building in the field of Oil and Gas/Extractives and Intercultural Competence.
• Bow Valley College has an ongoing three-year partnership working in Kenya as part of the Canadian-government-funded Kenya Education For Employment Programme (KEFEP). This project has two key components: CBET and TVET.

Read more about our work across the globe at International Development and Contract Training.

For more information, please contact:

Leigh MacKenzie
Senior Communications Specialist
Bow Valley College
Office: 587-393-2628
Mobile: 403-888-6946
Email: lmackenzie@bowvalleycollege.ca

About Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College - Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College - with more than 15,000 full- and part-time students, is a leader in business and health career training, community studies, creative technologies, adult upgrading, and English Language Learning.