• In some territories and provinces, career and employment counselling is a government ministry responsibility, and colleges and institutes collaborate with these departments to deliver workshops for graduating students. However, in the case of institutions such as Aurora College in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut Arctic College, which have campuses and learning centres serving very large territories, faculty also have an important role in providing career counselling and job search support.
• Preparation of resumes and curriculum vitae and job search skills training
  Almost 80 percent of responding institutions confirmed that they provide students help with the preparation of resumes and curriculum vitae, mostly as part of the curriculum of communications, upgrading or adult basic education programs. Similarly, 68 percent of respondents indicated they provide job search skills training integrated as part of upgrading and adult basic education programs.
• Mentorship programs
  About one third of respondents indicated they provide mentorship programs to facilitate labour market participation, with practitioners in students’ field of study providing guidance on how to find work and/or the nature of the work they will be involved in. Through the interviews and survey responses, colleges and institutes which are not currently offering this type of service indicated that this is a service they would like to be able to develop and offer to Aboriginal students.

3.6 Education and Training Programs for Aboriginal Learners

Aboriginal and mainstream institutions provide different types of education and training programs intended to meet the diverse needs of Aboriginal learners whether they are high school leavers, adult learners or recent high school graduates, as well as their varied goals for post-secondary education. This section profiles these education and training programs as follows:

• access and preparatory programs
• career and technical programs specifically for Aboriginal learners
• trades and apprenticeship
• university preparation
• university transfer and joint degree programs
• distance education programs
• part-time programs.

3.6.1 Access and Preparatory Programs

Access and preparatory programs are offered by Aboriginal and mainstream institutions in order address the needs of Aboriginal learners who either do not meet the basic entry requirements for regular college/institute programs or require upgrading of academic skills before entering career/technical or trades/apprenticeship programs. Access programs also aim to provide opportunities to those who would not have the opportunity to participate in college/institute programs because of a lack of social, cultural or linguistic barriers, lack of formal education, or residence in a rural or remote area.