Would you like fries with that diploma?
Administrator | Aug 19, 2016 | Comments 8
Ontario’s colleges and McDonald’s Canada have inked a groundbreaking agreement on business training.
For the first time in Ontario, McDonald’s employees can now receive credits toward a college business diploma, thanks to a new agreement between Colleges Ontario and McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited.
The agreement will create a provincewide partnership with McDonald’s Canada, a leading Canadian business, to establish a prior-learning recognition system.
McDonald’s employees, who have completed specific McDonald’s training, will be eligible to be granted the equivalent of first-year credit for a business or business administration program at one of 24 public colleges in Ontario. This could lead to cost-savings for eligible employees by reducing the number of courses and time required to earn a diploma – with potential savings of up to $4,500.
“We’re thrilled to offer such an amazing program with McDonald’s Canada,” said Linda Franklin, the president and CEO of Colleges Ontario in a statement. “This unique arrangement marks a new way of thinking about how employees can get access to further education and training without repeating learning they have already acquired. It’s the type of innovative partnership that colleges and businesses will be doing more of as Canada looks to strengthen its workforce and its economy.”
“McDonald’s and its independent franchisees are committed to providing opportunities for people to learn life skills that will set them up for success – skills such as leadership, communications, hospitality and profit management,” said Sharon Ramalho, Chief People Officer of McDonald’s Canada. “We’re so pleased to work with the colleges on this new program that not only recognizes the quality of McDonald’s training, but also empowers employees to apply the skills they’ve learned to reach their career and academic goals.”
Across Ontario, 24 public colleges have agreed to grant recognition for first-year business credit into the business diploma or business administration advanced diploma (or the relevant related program at each local college) to McDonald’s managers who have successfully completed the management development program level 2, with some additional requirements. This means that employees will have the opportunity to directly enter a second-year business diploma or business administration advanced diploma program.
McDonald’s Canada offers a similar program in B.C. with the British Columbia Institute of Technology and is also exploring programs with other post-secondary institutions across the country.
Filed Under: Local News
Well at least I can say I got people talking and thinking about this news item. I am concerned about the amount of American influence on this country – from horrible TV programs to politics , but nothing bothers me more than to see Canadian kids being wrongly influenced by American propaganda. The Americans have distorted their own history to the point where they have no idea of what the truth is. A good example of that is the movie Argo – they really believe they saved those Americans and that Canada and Ken Taylor played minor roles. The thought of allowing more Americanization into our school system should concern everyone. Do any of you really believe that the Yanks would allow a foreign company to set up shop in their colleges, universities and school system – without them benefiting? Hardly! Wanting to protect Canadian values isn’t bigotry, it is protecting our way of life, but mostly our way of thinking. Things far more important than an order of fries and a Big Mac! The people to question are our governments – ask them why there are not more Canadian businesses and factories? We sell ourselves to he lowest bidder every time – I’m just saying it is time to stop! Anyone who is unaware of MacD working conditions and low pay are out of touch.
Couldn’t find that definition Sam. Objecting to American business practices doesn’t pass the smell test for bigotry.
Hatred or dislike based upon country of origin… Sounds like a form of bigotry to me. Look it up.
Interesting comment until you ended with “bigotry”. Ridiculous!
So Dennis, you don’t like “American” companies? What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford, GM and Chrysler all have american parentage. Do you shop at Walmart, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Home Depot? Even if you shop at the “Canadian” stores like Canadian Tire, Giant Tiger and Home Hardware, try finding something that is made in Canada. Most of it is from the US, China or elsewhere. Like beer? Too bad it is all foreign owned. Even our Tim Hortons doesn’t belong to us. As for the “poor pay and working conditions”, are you certain of that? Do you know people that work there? I know several young people that worked there and it was far better than other jobs that they had had. Do you know that it is worse that any other food-service jobs? Do the people at Wendy’s, KFC, Tim’s and Subway seem better treated and happier? McDonalds Canada is a Canadian company operating since 1968. It currently employs more than 85,000 Canadians. If you don’t like it then don’t eat there, but hating it because of its american parentage and using that to bolster your position sounds like a form of bigotry to me.
Corey – too complicated for you to think about? That is what MacD is hoping for.
Someone needs to take the keyboard away from Dennis.
This is not the first time MacDonalds has made such arrangement’s with a province. BC did it years ago, and that deal was guilty of the corporatization of our Colleges and Universities and of the public school system. Their logo was on everything from school supplies to text books, and Big Macs were pushed as a healthy food choice! This deal for Ontario will be no different. The fact that it is an American company steep in controversy, with poor pay and working conditions for their employees should concern our government – instead Wynne makes a deal with them. So just how will our schools benefit? We don’t know because they are not telling us, so what does that tell you? The point to remember is that our school system does not belong to any one government – it belongs to the people. I for one do not want to see an American business involved with it.