As part of its sustained effort to train Francophone teachers to overcome the shortage of such teachers in Ontario, the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa, with support from the provincial and federal governments, is relaunching its French-language educational technology teaching program, known as ÉduTek, as a certificate and bachelor’s degree option.
This program aims to train high school teachers from Grade 9 to 12 in fields such as information technology, construction, transportation and communications, health care and technology design.
This is the first time in over five years that an educational technology training program will be offered in Ontario in French.
ÉduTek is being reborn thanks to an investment from the Governments of Canada and Ontario.
“We are very grateful for this investment, which will strengthen the ability of Francophone and Francophile students to acquire new skills in French,” said Jacques Frémont, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa. “By training more future teachers in various fields of technology, the University of Ottawa will continue to support the growth of Ontario's innovation economy and the strength and resilience of the Franco-Ontarian community.”
“Our faculty welcomes this government funding, which will enable us to train Francophone teachers in Ontario in a field where there is a pressing need. We are proud to collaborate closely with several partners in this sector to offer this program,” said Dean Richard Barwell of the Faculty of Education, University of Ottawa. “Our ÉduTek program is perfectly in line with the mission of the University, which is to serve the Franco-Ontarian community.”
“Through this partnership with the University of Ottawa, the Ontario government is taking action to increase the much-needed supply of French-language technological education teachers in the province and confirming our commitment to the Franco-Ontarian community,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This new French-language postsecondary education program will not only bolster the supply of technological teachers in the secondary school system but will also help address the educational needs of French-speaking students looking to pursue opportunities in the skilled trades.”
The educational technology teaching program at the University of Ottawa will offer bachelor’s and certificate programs in education on a part-time basis.
ÉduTek is designed for current teachers as well as technology professionals in various trades who wish to undertake new challenges and direct their careers towards teaching.
“This program is taking up the challenge of linking local issues to global ones. On one hand, it is completely accessible and adapted to Franco-Ontarians, since most of the courses are online and include diversity and inclusion aspects that reflect the student population in our Francophone schools. On the other hand, this is an international calibre program that deals with the future of trades that are slated to incorporate high levels of AI, robotics, design, and other advanced technologies,” said Emmanuel Duplàa, a professor in educational technology at the University of Ottawa. “ÉduTek will allow teachers to transmit their enthusiasm and skills to future generations while preparing them for transformational shifts in these trades.”
The ÉduTek program, which is only offered in French, will be available throughout the province thanks to online training in the fall and winter terms and in-person training of cohorts in Ottawa over the summer term.
Two cohorts are slated to begin in 2022: the first in January and the second in July.
Admission to the program that starts in January 2022 opened in September 2021.
An information session will be held on October 27 at 7:00 pm. For more information: [email protected] Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83688789052?pwd=dHJIMFZ0MlhUYUhiTjlqWlpQcFFrdz09
For media inquiries:
Justine Boutet
Media Relations Officer
University of Ottawa
Cell: 613-762-2908
[email protected]