PRESS RELEASE
ECO Canada Accreditation Granted to Several Programs Across Canada
Calgary, AB – ECO Canada is proud to announce the accreditation and re-accreditation of several esteemed educational programs, recognizing their commitment to academic excellence and environmental stewardship. Among the institutions with newly accredited and re-accredited programs are Trent University, Maritime College of Forest Technology, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and Keyano College.
Accredited environmental programs foster a culture of proactive, continuous improvement. ECO Canada accreditation validates a post-secondary program’s commitment to high-quality education, accountability and public trust. ECO Canada works closely with industry and academic partners to make sure these programs keep pace with ever-changing trends and the skills employers expect from graduates today. The accreditation is based on conformance with the National Accreditation Standard (NAS) for Post-secondary Environmental Programs. NAS comprises requirements for post-secondary academic programs and normative references including Curriculum Standards that align with the National Occupational Standard (NOS) and labour market requirements. There are currently 44 programs accredited by ECO Canada.
The accreditation services bridge the school-to-work transition by:
- Ensuring students gain the right competencies for in-demand jobs,
- Guaranteeing employers that graduates will be the right fit for their business,
- Supporting graduates’ career development with the integrated Environmental Professional (EPt) program.
Trent University’s Bioenvironmental Monitoring & Assessment (BEMA) program have received accreditation from ECO Canada. The Master of Bioenvironmental Monitoring & Assessment (M.BEMA) is a 1-year program with a 4-month professional placement in the environmental sector, within government, environmental consulting, conservation authority, and ENGO workplaces. The Graduate Diploma (G.Dip) is an online 8-month program. Part-time options are available for both, to accommodate early and mid-career professionals.
In addition to Trent University, Maritime College of Forest Technology/ Collège de Technologie Forestière des Maritimes has been rewarded ECO Canada accreditation for their two programs Forest Technology Diploma/Diplôme en technologie forestière and Forest and Fish and Wildlife Technology Diplom. The Forest Technology Diploma is a two-year applied forestry program designed to educate and train entry-to-practice professional forest technicians-technologists. The program is offered in English in Fredericton and in French in Bathurst.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) is also adding another accredited program: the Integrated Water Management Diploma. During this 2-year program, students learn to develop a strong understanding of the complex solutions and decisions required to balance the preservation of water-related ecosystems. The program prepares graduates for careers in water management including roles such as water management specialist, water quality technician, watershed planner, flood planning technologist, or junior hydrologist.
“We are thrilled to acknowledge the dedication and quality of these educational institutions in providing excellent programs in environmental education,” said Saskia Schälicke, Associate Registrar, Post-secondary Programs Accreditation at ECO Canada. “These accreditations highlight their commitment to preparing students for impactful careers in environmental sectors, and we are proud to recognize their efforts.”
Keyano College’s Environmental Technology Co-op Diploma has recently been re-accredited on November 27, 2023. The Environmental Technology Co-op Diploma program at Keyano College is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to address contemporary environmental challenges. By blending hands-on training and theoretical study, students in the program develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues and learn to apply sustainable practices across various industries, preparing them for impactful careers in the field of environmental technology.
For more information about ECO Canada accreditation and the recognized programs, please visit https://staging.eco.ca/educators/.
About ECO Canada:
ECO Canada is the steward of the Canadian environmental industry. From job creation and wage funding to training and labour market research – we champion the end-to-end career of an environmental professional. We aim to promote and drive responsible, sustainable economic growth within the industry while ensuring that environmental care and best practices are priorities. Over the past 30 years, we have forged academic partnerships, tools, and research to train and certify environmental job seekers and help fill the labour market.
We work alongside government, policymakers, academia, students, employers, professionals, industry, and international audiences to ensure we support Canada as a global leader in innovative workforce solutions and job creation. We remain the go-to source in the environmental labour market; our research provides unmatched statistics and analysis on the industry’s economic and labour trends that identify workforce gaps.
For more information, contact:
Aaron Wilson
VP, Marketing & Sales
ECO Canada
