All 45 public colleges and universities participate in the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT) to help students find pathways between institutions and tailor their own education. More than one in 10 Ontario students participates in transfer activities, and eight in 10 college graduates who hold a diploma have a pathway to at least one degree.

All 45 public colleges and universities provide innovative online and technology-enabled learning experiences for students through eCampusOntario. Through the eCampusOntario portal, students can find information about online courses, scheduling, tuition and fees, as well as where to go for registration details.

Faculty and instructional designers from Ontario colleges and universities worked together to identify online resources to support instructors and students in online teaching and learning. The project was funded by the government of Ontario through eCampusOntario.

The Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) created a consortium of six postsecondary institutions including: Queen’s, Guelph, Toronto, Confederation, Durham, George Brown and Humber, which works to develop tools and techniques to help measure learning outcomes. Biannual meetings of the consortium allow participating institutions to share new understandings with other members of the consortium.

The SXD Lab launched in March 2017 with a forum including students, educators, and industry representatives to help design innovative ways to learn online. College and university students were provided an opportunity to connect with innovative e-learning organizations to work on real-life solutions to online learning challenges, and to look forward to future innovations.

With funding from eCampusOntario in 2017, colleges and universities are developing open resources that will enhance student learning opportunities. Collaborative projects include: experiential learning-themed online modules focused on developing foundational skills for community-based research, online modules aimed at nursing students for the development of patient safety and maternal and newborn care, online modules in the fundamentals of science, and an e-text book focused on pop-up retail strategies for use in courses such as marketing and business.

Colleges and universities with nursing partnerships have collaborated to develop 40 evidence-based clinical nursing simulations to enhance hands-on learning. The project also developed a standard learning format for learning outcomes.

The Inclusive Design Institute (IDI), located at OCADU and with eight postsecondary partner institutions across universities and colleges, is a regional centre of expertise focused on preparing Ontario to respond to the increased demand for information and communications systems. Its scope includes systems for users with disabilities, varying language needs and diverse cultural preferences. Drawing upon long-standing collaborative partnerships between world-class researchers in a variety of disciplines, the IDI infrastructure supports a variety of research projects focused on inclusive design and development.

With funding provided by eCampusOntario in 2017, colleges and universities are developing new online certificate, degree and pathways programs. New programs being developed include: an online post-graduate Inter-Professional Certificate in Complex and Long-Term Care (George Brown College and Ryerson University), a program in Postsecondary Educational Studies ( Brock University and Niagara College), a certificate program in Applied Research and Analysis (Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University), a computer science bridging program for students in Computer Engineering Technician diploma programs to a Bachelor of Computer Science degree program (Northern College, Durham College and Algoma University), a Computer Science Pathway program (University of Windsor and St Clair College), and an Early Childhood Studies Degree Completion Bachelor of Applied Science program (University of Guelph and Humber College).

Colleges and universities are collaborating on three virtual simulation projects, funded by eCampusOntario. The new online simulations will enhance student learning opportunities in nursing and inter-professional health care. New virtual simulations are also being developed to help college and university instructional designers and faculty develop games that help students reach desired learning outcomes.

The McMaster/Mohawk Affiliated Certificate Program is offered to Social Sciences students enrolled at McMaster University. In this innovative program, students gain theoretical understandings through their university coursework as well as practical applications through college courses, all in four years. Certificates are available in Business Studies, Leadership and Management in the Not-for-Profit sector, and Applied Behavior Analysis.

Universities and colleges meet regularly to share experiences in, and innovative research on, student learning outcomes. Over several years, faculty, deans and senior administrators have discussed best practices at the Learning Outcomes Symposium in Toronto, a two-day event organized by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance, in partnership with the Council of Ontario Universities, the Ontario College Quality Assurance Service, the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer, and the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board.

Northern colleges and universities have exchanged ideas on their unique contexts and to identify opportunities to enhance student mobility at a recent conference sponsored by ONCAT, and hosted by Sault College and Algoma University. Participants from nine universities and colleges highlighted the importance of collaboration for enhancing student success, and discussed the importance of prioritizing pathways for Indigenous learners.

The Centre for Excellence for Innovation in Aging is a partnership between University of Waterloo, Conestoga College and the Research Institute on Aging. Located on University of Waterloo’s north campus, the centre focuses on research, training and innovation in senior health care.

The Mohawk-McMaster Institute for Applied Health Sciences provides students from both Mohawk College and McMaster University with simulated clinical laboratories and medical image equipment. It is home to 1,200 full-time and 3,500 part-time students from Mohawk and McMaster.

SATELLiTE Project Space incudes a partnership between Fanshawe College and Western University. It provides a space for students to collaborate on projects in the arts and culture.

Long-standing campus partners Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) have established an Innovative Initiatives Fund to support collaborative initiatives including research, innovation and entrepreneurship proposed by staff and faculty at both institutions.

A free online preceptor education program is offered through eCampus Ontario. The resource was collaboratively developed by the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College to help clinical instructors and students prepare for clinical placements.