Post-Secondary Education Act and new regulations come into force
Publication Date
News Release
The Post-Secondary Education (PSE) Act and four sets of corresponding regulations came into force today. The legislation is an important milestone in the Government of the Northwest Territories’ (GNWT) work to build a comprehensive post-secondary education system in the Northwest Territories (NWT).
The legislation will ensure colleges, universities and private training institutions in the NWT are meeting territorial standards. The PSE Act establishes how these institutions are accredited in the NWT so that residents can be sure they’re getting high-quality training and education at a recognized school. It also formalizes a quality assurance system for the accreditation of certificate, diploma and degree programs.
Creating this standardized system allows for education across jurisdictions. Students from the NWT can transfer to programs in other provinces and territories or beyond. This process also allows institutions from other jurisdictions to provide programing in the NWT that has been reviewed and is accredited.
Quote(s)
“The Department Education, Culture, and Employment is committed to ensuring high quality post-secondary education for all students attending post-secondary schools in the Northwest Territories. This legislation will help ensure that colleges, universities and private training schools meet high standards, and that students going through the education system can feel confident they’re receiving the best training possible.”
- R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment
Quick facts
In 2019, the Post-Secondary Education (PSE) Act was given assent, but not brought into force
The Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) is an external body that will be responsible for conducting reviews on all degree programs, universities, and any institutions that want to deliver a degree program in the NWT.
A Quality Assurance Review Advisory Committee will provide reviews of non-degree institutions operating in the NWT. This internal committee will include GNWT staff from ECE, as well as additional members that may be required as subject matter experts to conduct reviews.