Red River College has entered into a new partnership that will help Canada’s veterans and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces trade the experience they gained serving our country for a diploma.

As part of the announcement, RRC signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal government’s National Advanced Placement & Prior Learning (N-APPL) program, which supports the recognition of military experience in post-secondary settings. Thanks to the agreement, veterans and reservists now have the opportunity to turn their training and experience into academic credits.

“The strength of Red River College is our ability to be agile in meeting student needs and the changing needs of our economy,” says RRC President Paul Vogt. “Not only does this partnership formally recognize military service, it allows the College to offer a broad talent pool for employers and open new career paths for Canadians who serve our country.”

The agreement makes RRC the first post-secondary institution in the province to formally acknowledge that skills, training and experience acquired through military service can be applied towards a college diploma.

RRC will pilot the project by fast-tracking veterans and reservists into the second year of its Business Administration program, with plans to expand to other program areas in the future.

“Members of the Canadian Armed Forces bring a wealth of experience and power skills to the classroom,” says Dr. Christine Watson, RRC’s Vice-President, Academic. “This is an important first step and I look forward to expanding to many more programs at the College. I am excited that RRC is able to play such an important role in bringing them one step closer to pursuing their academic goals and entering into a new career.”

N-APPL is the national extension of the Legion Military Skills Conversion Program, originally based on the Advanced Placement and Prior Learning method at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

(Shown above, from left: Lt.-Col. John Groves, Deputy Commander, 38th Canadian Brigade Group; Dr. Christine Watson, Vice-President, Academic, RRC; Lauren Waples, Recognition of Prior Learning Facilitator, RRC; Paul Vogt, President and CEO, RRC; Kirk Johnson, Dean, School of Business and Applied Arts, RRC; Col. Nigel Whittaker, Assistant Chief of Staff Support, 3rd Canadian Division; Kay Kuri, Advanced Placement Prior Learning Programs, BCIT; Lisa Jamieson, Chair, Applied Commerce and Management Education, RRC.)

(Photos courtesy 38th Canadian Brigade Group)