May 29, 2013 - New master’s programs in Nursing in French (Maîtrise en sciences infirmières) and Indigenous Relations have been approved and will commence in September of 2014.
In its graduate expansion plan, Laurentian had identified the need to accelerate opportunities for graduate studies in three areas of excellence (environmental sustainability, mining innovation and exploration, rural and northern health) and in two areas responding to regional needs (Indigenous relations and governance, sustainable northern economic development). This is a significant step towards meeting two of these five opportunities.
“Forty percent of northeastern Ontario is comprised of French-speaking people,” said Dr. Robert Kerr, Vice-President, Academic and Provost. “Laurentian is expanding and the Masters of Science in Nursing will provide increased opportunities for French-speaking health professionals to access and pursue graduate education. It will allow our undergraduate Francophone students to pursue graduate education in an area of high demand.”
The Master’s in Indigenous Relations will train graduate students to enhance the capacity of Indigenous peoples to participate as leaders in the economic, political, social and cultural life of Canada and the world. The establishment of a research chair in Indigenous Relations and Governance will support Laurentian University’s leading role in the promotion of Indigenous learning across Canada and beyond.
“This is about building capacity and creating opportunities for generations to come,” said Associate Vice-President, Academic and Indigenous Programs, Dr. Sheila Cote-Meek. “These initiatives represent a new level of opportunity for those students who will become successful policy-makers and leaders in the new economy.”
In addition to the above new programs, new research chairs are also being pursued in areas of significant strength for the University or in response to regional needs: Sustainable Northern Economic Development and Franco-Ontarian History, along with externally-funded research chairs in Cancer Research and Aboriginal Health.
Laurentian University continues to advocate for an increase in the provincial allocation of graduate spaces, in order to further enhance access to these programs of study.