New Brunswick Community College (NBCC), the University of New Brunswick (UNB), and the provincial Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (EECD) have launched a joint working group uniting more than 40 senior education leaders to build stronger transfer pathways and improve post-secondary retention across New Brunswick.
Marking the first time the province’s largest English-language public college, its comprehensive provincial university, and the education ministry have coordinated planning from a unified system-wide perspective, the initiative connects secondary school readiness directly with post-secondary credentials and long-term workforce participation.
Three Core Priorities for Provincial Learner Mobility
With approximately 16 percent of New Brunswick youth aged 15 to 29 currently not participating in employment, education, or training (NEET), the tri-partner working group established three shared operational priorities:
- Student Engagement and Access: Expanding career exploration, academic advising, and foundational readiness across both rural and urban New Brunswick communities.
- In-Province Post-Secondary Retention: Strengthening first-year transition supports so more learners complete diplomas and degrees within New Brunswick’s public institutions.
- College-to-University Credit Mobility: Creating clearer bridging programs and credit-transfer pathways between NBCC diplomas and UNB degree programs.
EECD Minister Claire Johnson noted that the partnership aligns with New Brunswick’s 12-year anglophone education strategy, Strong Basics, Bright Futures, while UNB Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Petra Hauf and NBCC Vice-President of Academic Innovation Ann Drennan emphasized that coordinated institutional pathways open flexible career and degree options for learners at every stage.
About New Brunswick Community College
Welcoming more than 12,000 learners annually across six campuses in New Brunswick, NBCC delivers applied diploma and certificate programs aligned with Atlantic Canada’s labour market; prospective students can explore program offerings at www.nbcc.ca or contact our education team for advice on studying in New Brunswick.