SOUTHWESTERN ALBERTA TECHNOLOGY PREPARATION PROGRAM

An innovative program that provides high school students with academic and employability skills needed to succeed in the workplace

Today's students need to prepare for the career skills of tomorrow. They need an education that will help them succeed in a world where rapid change is the rule, not the exception.

The Southwestern Alberta Technology Preparation Program is a strategic partnership between southwestern Alberta school jurisdictions and the Lethbridge Community College. It promotes career training and employability skill development for high school students in southwestern Alberta and should ease the transition of students to post-secondary programs or the workplace.

The Technology Preparation Program strengthens career education and counselling so students can choose courses or programs leading to specific career opportunities.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS
The Technology Preparation Program is a focused, goal oriented program that combines a challenging applied academic curriculum with employability skills. This will better prepare students for post-secondary training or for employment.

• Applied Academics in English, Mathematics, Sciences and Social Sciences ... Incorporates real-life examples to give context to learning within a challenging Alberta Learning curriculum. Course content prepares students for post-secondary programs and is relevant to the world of work.
  
• Business and Industry Involvement ... Worksite learning opportunities enhances the curriculum and give students a first hand look at the skills and attitudes they need to succeed in the labour market.
  
• Career Planning and Investigation ... Comprehensive career guidance and planning assists students in developing a path to broad career goals: Business, Technology and Trades, Human Services, Natural Resources, or Arts.
  
• Employability Skills Portfolio ... Students will develop a portfolio that evolves through their high school experience. Compiling the portfolio helps students identify, select and organize the skills that will assist them in moving from school to work or further training. The portfolio "graduates" with the students and assists them with their future goals.
• Articulation ... Links two (or more) educational systems to assist students in making a smooth transition from one level to another, without delays, duplication of courses or loss of credit.

How are Students Recognized?
Students successfully completing the Technology Preparation Program will be awarded one of the following credentials: € Technology Preparation Credential This credential will assist students in their career development process and enhance entry into selected post-secondary programs or entry into the workplace € Employability Credential This credential will assist students in their career development process and enhance entry into the workplace or further training.

To earn a Technology Preparation Credential or Employability Credential, the student completes the requirements for a High School Diploma and the program of studies outlined below.

• students will develop and maintain a Career Planning / Employability Skills portfolio and complete a Graduate Skills presentation
• entrance programs to various college programs vary. Students need to meet the minimum entrance requirements for those programs.
  

1. Students must meet the admission requirements of the program to which they are applying. Through articulation, educational programs are continually reviewed and revised to provide curriculum that will prepare students to participate in post-secondary options and meet the needs of business and industry.

Courses for Career Clusters

Through the agreement with Lethbridge Community College, students in the Technology Preparation Program may receive advanced credit, advanced placement, or preferential admission to a variety of post-secondary programs at LCC. Students are advised to focus their studies in the most relevant Career and Technology Studies (CTS) clusters and meet the appropriate admission requirements for LCC the program to which they may apply.

The Technology Preparation Advantage

• Strong applied academic foundation
  
• Enhanced career guidance and planning built around career clusters
  
• Improved employability skills with experience relating to career goals
  
• Completion of an Employability Skills Portfolio
  
• Business and industry commitment in providing work site learning opportunities
  
• Encourages critical thinking skills which form the foundation for success in the work place
  
• Provides articulation with post-secondary programs allowing for advanced standing or advanced credit
  
• A partnership that involves local school districts, Lethbridge Community Colleges, businesses and industry
  

For more information please contact your High School Principal or the Southwestern Alberta Technology Preparation Program Office:

Doug Scotney, Executive Director
Fax: (403) 380-6890
Telephone: (403) 328-3996
e-mail: [email protected]

CTS ARTICULATION - LETHBRIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ACC Accounting
AFO Recreation Facility Operations
AGR Agriculture
BUS Business Administration
CAP Communication Arts
COC Commercial Cooking
COM Communications
CPU Computer Use
DES Design
FAB Fabrication
FAS Fashion Studies
FDM Fashion Design & Merchandising
FIN Financial Management
FOD Foods
INF Information Processing
KEY Keyboarding
M&M Management & Marketing
MKT Marketing
OAA Office & Administrative Assistant
TOU Tourism Studies
TTC Travel & Tourism