[SUMMERSIDE, PE] — Holland College received a major financial boost from the federal government to support the offering of new e-health training at the college’s Summerside Waterfront Campus.
National Revenue Minister Gail Shea announced Tuesday that college, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Business Development, will receive $220,466 towards the purchase of computer and specialized equipment for a new e-health Training and Industry Support Centre.
The Province will provide students with financial assistance under the Skills P.E.I. program.
“The e-health sector is well established in Summerside and today’s announcement holds more good news for that sector,” Shea said. “Investment in the innovation and knowledge-based sectors is an investment in the competitiveness of Canadian businesses. Holland College will continue to make a large contribution to growing and sustaining our economy by equipping Canadians to participate in and contribute to Atlantic Canada’s workforce.”
Holland College president Dr. Brian McMillan said that without this kind of support these important programs would never happen.
“Holland College prides itself in being responsive to the needs of industry in our Island communities and today’s announcement is just another example,” McMillan said. “As we move forward with this initiative this e-health training industry support centre will enable us to incorporate specialized training required to support the e-health industry.”
He said the first step for the college is incorporating an e-health component into its computer information assistance program.
“One special feature of the course is that the industry is going to take our students for on-the-job training," giving them "hands-on experiences".
One challenge, added McMillan, is the varying software used by e-health companies.
“It’s really important that our students get to work with different types of companies here so they are better prepared to hit the floor, ready to work and contribute.”
McMillan said another element Holland College has been able to put together is an IT model called Tele-presence Distance Education Program.
Equipment at the Summerside facility will allow students from across the Island to take part in the courses “and if you have a camcorder you can join that class,” he added.
Each class will be videotaped with lectures, comments and questions captured. These will be available to students who missed a class or who want to review certain material.
“If this sector is to thrive in Summerside and across the Island, it is essential to support the expansion of firms already located in the area and to encourage other health IT business to locate here,” he added. “In order to do that we must have a pool of well-trained workers.”
