SASKATOON — The province's Education and Tourism Ministry has signed a new partnership with Saskatchewan Distance Learning and Tourism Saskatchewan representatives to equip high school students with the skills to support the industry's growing demand.
Ministers Jeremy Cockrill and Jeremy Harrison signed agreements with CEOs Darren Gasper (Sask DLC) and Jonathan Potts (Tourism Saskatchewan). Cockrill is the Minister responsible for Sask DLC, while Harrison is for Tourism Saskatchewan.
Cockrill said Sask DLC was created to give students and their families flexibility with their learning choices, making the province's K-12 educational system more than just a support system for finishing high school.
"It's also about preparing them to be well-rounded adults who can contribute to our economy and their community for generations to come through a career approach. We know what they're learning in high school today is what forms their future and choices they make," said Cockrill.
"Today, so many options about their futures are available to [Saskatchewan] students. We want students to have the chance to experience and explore the options available right in their home communities. Sask DLC allows students to explore their passions and future careers."
The partnership between Sask DLC and Tourism Saskatchewan aims to provide high school students with work placement opportunities in Saskatchewan's growing tourism industry that could increase the demand for employment in the sector.
The signed partnership will give Saskatchewan students a 50-hour work placement and 50 hours of online theory in the Tourism 20 and 30 courses. Tourism 20 will be available in the second semester of this school year, and Tourism 30 next year.
Tourism 10, the online theory course, has been available in the province. Tourism Saskatchewan contributed $40,000 for a program coordinator position to help students taking these courses find work placement opportunities near their homes.
"This will allow students to learn in person about customer service and what it takes to run some of our vital service industry businesses, whether that's restaurants, hotels, or tourism attractions around the province," said Cockrill.
"Online courses are available to all students in the province. Whether you learn full-time online or are going to a local high school and taking courses part-time online, you can take this and other elective courses that Sask Â鶹ÊÓƵ DLC has as part of your graduation plan."
The partnerships between the Ministry and industry leaders will allow students to choose a career in the industry that interests them, learn the basics, and gain experience while earning credits while studying high school.
"This is just one way for high school students to get some preparation opportunities and see if they want to pursue them. They will then be able to build upon that learning with a work placement with a tourism business in their area of the province," said Cockrill.
"Tourism Saskatchewan is supporting the creation of resources that will allow our students taking these courses to hear directly from tourism industry leaders. This is good news for Saskatchewan students, but it's excellent news for our tourism industry in Saskatchewan."
High school students anywhere in the province who take the online tourism courses under Sask DLC will learn some of the industry's key aspects: accommodation, entertainment, food and beverage, recreation, and transportation and travel services.
