The Portfolio College

  Définition Description

1. Title of Initiative

 Title or name as specified in official documentation, e.g. funding contract

The Portfolio College
2. Provider Name of organisation responsible for delivering the initiative Nova Scotia Community College
3. Sponsor Name of organisation responsible for funding the initiative Nova Scotia Community College
4. Date Commenced Month and year (if known) when the initiative first came into operation 1999
5. Date ended If this initiative is not longer in operation, please give the month and year when it came to an end, if known. Continuing
6. Targeted Audience Is the initiative aimed at specific groups, or is it more general in application? Please specify any demographic or employee groups being targeted. All students attending and graduating from NSCC.
7. Location Is this a national initiative, or is its coverage limited to a particular region or locality? If so, please specify the region or locality covered. 13 campuses through out Nova Scotia.
8. Overview of Program Please give a brief description of the initiative, in one or two sentences. Every student at the college must have a portfolio in order to graduate, which demonstrates the learning they experienced in their program.
9. Why Developed / Problems / Issues Targeted What are the main aims or objectives of the initiative? Is it designed to address any particular problems or issues? If so, please specify what these are.

To respond to the needs of the knowledge economy and develop lifelong learners.

  • Identify and demonstrate what a student has done and what s/he can do
  • Highlight employability skills as well as technical skills
  • Transfer skills and knowledge gained in the past to present and future settings
  • Establish a personal record of learning beyond the certificate, diploma and transcript.

10. Key Features / Content

  • Innovative
  • Effective
  • Promising
 Please describe the main features of the program, focusing in particular on those aspects that are particularly innovative, effective or promising.

The portfolio is developed over the course of the studies. It includes not only what the student learned but reflections on how s/he learned.

It is more than a learning portfolio that itemizes formal instructional learning. The NSCC student portfolio incorporates the centrality of self-development within the broader educational matrix that includes selfreflection, learning from experience, reasoning and performance.
11. Funding Mechanisms Please describe the type of funding mechanism used for this initiative (e.g. provider’s own budget, service contract, grant, co-funding etc.) Own budget.
12. Organizational Dimensions Please describe any key organizational dimensions of this initiative, e.g. delivery mechanisms, number of trainers, reporting structure etc.

An Adult Education Diploma is a requirement for all faculty and professional educators at NSCC.

A Portfolio course is required for other employee groups such as Curriculum and Modifications. Initial staffing of a Portfolio Office to support the innovation was needed.
13. Partnerships Integral or Related Are there any partner organizations involved in the delivery of the initiative? If so, please provide brief details of the partnership arrangements. Atlantic PLA Centre, Employers of our students and graduates through Program Advisory Committees and program work placements.
14. Stakeholder Involvement What mechanisms are used, if any, to involve key stakeholders involved in the development, delivery or evaluation of the initiative? Which groups of stakeholders are involved? The employers contribute to the experiential learning opportunities for students, which provides valuable input for their portfolios.
15. Key Changes Over Time Have there been any major changes in the content or delivery of this initiative over time? If yes, please give brief details. The Portfolio College initiative has changed the teaching and learning philosophy and practices at the College.