Féderation des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique

> AT the Provincial Level

Post-secondary education: memorandum of understanding
signed with SFU to provide French-language programs

After years of trying to secure
post-secondary programs in
French, on November 7, 2002, the
Fédération des francophones de
la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB)
signed a memorandum of under-
standing with Simon Fraser
University (SFU) that will enable
Francophones and Francophiles
in our province to pursue their
university studies in French.

The Fédération used this oppor-
tunity to publicize a report
entitled: University Education
and Programs for Francophones
and Francophiles of British
Columbia. A Call to Action.

From left to right:

Dr. Jean Watters (consultant),

Marc Gignac (Executive Director

of the Fédération des parents
francophones de la C.-B.),

Claude Provencher (President

of the FFCB), Dr. Michael Stevenson
(President of SFU), Anna Maddison
(Outgoing President of Canadian

parents for french B.C.)

The report’s author, Dr. Jean
Watters, provides consulting
services to the FFCB in the field
of education and is well known
for his expertise in post-secondary
education and institution
management.

One of the report proposals is
that SFU become the host
university in charge of carrying
out the recommendations. The
report suggests that the universi-
ty establish a Bureau of
Francophone and _ Francophile
Affairs to ensure that the initia-
tive is fully implemented. And
in order for Francophones and

Francophiles to participate fully
in the development and manage-
ment of this project, it is also
recommended that an advisory
committee be created by the
host university.

In terms of academic programs,
the report proposes the creation
of an undergraduate program
in community development and
public administration. There
would also be an expansion of
the Professional Development
Program to include future ele-
mentary teachers who will be
working in Francophone and
Immersion Programs. As well,

Annual Report 2002-2003

the M.A. and M.Ed. programs in
education in French would be
enhanced.

In conjunction with its partners,
the FFCB is now taking steps to
secure the necessary government
funding to implement the report’s
recommendations.

In future, the Annual Report will be
made available on the FFCB website
at: wwwficb.be.ca.