Kwantlen Polytechnic University will have 64 new seats for students in its health care assistant program thanks to funding received from an $8.4 million Government of B.C investment to expand education and training for health care assistants in the province.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for more dedicated health care assistants throughout our province,” says Sharmen Lee, dean of the Faculty of Health at KPU.
“KPU is an active partner with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, the Ministry of Health, and the health authorities in addressing the critical shortage of this essential health human resource.”
The program will provide quality education as well as experiential learning to students interested in working in long-term care and assisted living facilities. Students in the program study part-time and work part-time as personal support workers in long-term care and assisted living facilities.
“This is a unique part-time model in which students participate in online learning, in simulated labs and practice within long-term care and assisted living facilities,” says Sharon Leitch, chair of the health care assistant program.
“With this model, they are able to blend learning with employment.”