Nearly 1,000 young people who have registered in a regional CEGEP this year will be entitled to a scholarship from the new Parcours student mobility program.
Posted at 12:00 a.m.
Specifically, 998 students should receive a Parcours scholarship during the 2022-2023 school year, according to data from the Ministry of Higher Education.
“These data are provisional, but the objective of 1,000 students will probably be reached,” it says by email.
Quebec has spared no effort to attract CEGEP students from major centers in the regions with the announcement in May of an improved student mobility program and enhanced scholarships.
From the first year, the former Minister of Higher Education Danielle McCann hoped to convince 1000 students to try the experiment.
However, the march was high: last year, less than 400 young people from major centers continued their studies in a regional CEGEP.
“We did not expect great growth this year. Of course, this is very good news, ”reacted Bernard Tremblay, president of the Fédération des cégeps.
Better distribute students
With this program, which amounts to a cost of 112 million over five years, Quebec hopes to promote the vitality of the regions and better distribute the students in the college network.
Approximately 12,000 places are available in regional CEGEPs. Meanwhile, CEGEPs in Greater Montreal are overflowing and preparing to face a wave of tens of thousands of students in the coming years.
To encourage student mobility, students who enroll in one of the 18 eligible regional CEGEPs (Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, etc.) receive a annual scholarship of $7,500, for all programs combined.
The success of the new program is “a good omen,” says Marie-Claude Deschênes, president of the Regroupement des cégeps de region.
However, it is still early to see its full effect on registrations. “Several students had made their choice of CEGEPs before knowing him,” she explains.
This is the case of Dakota Webster.
Originally from Quebec, he was unaware of the Parcours program when he enrolled in marine mechanical engineering at Cégep de Rimouski.
“I just received a [courriel] telling me that I had been selected [pour recevoir une bourse Parcours] “, he says.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DAKOTA WEBSTER
Dakota Webster, marine mechanical engineering student at Cégep de Rimouski and recipient of a Parcours scholarship
It’s a nice surprise, though. The financial boost allows him to work less on the sidelines of his studies. “I can have more time off to see my family,” Dakota says.
Promote the program
Efforts must be maintained to make the program better known to young people, however, believes Bernard Tremblay.
Within five years, the Ministry of Higher Education hopes to attract 5,000 CEGEP students to the region.
“It is far from certain that we will obtain the results desired by the Ministry,” warns Mr. Tremblay.
According to him, we must launch “a national promotion campaign”, whether in the media or in schools.
The Quebec Collegiate Student Federation is of the same opinion. “Is the program going to continue to expand in the next few years or is it leveling off? asks its president, Maya Labrosse.
“There really have to be strong partnerships with the major centers because the students are there,” she pleads.