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“More and more university graduates are coming here too, looking for a clearer pathway into a career.”

Post-secondary schools that have satellite campuses at Bow Valley College have also seen similar uptakes in enrolment, with Athabasca and University of Lethbridge seeing an increase in demand for adult learning opportunities.

University of Lethbridge has seen student numbers increase at their main southern Alberta campus, with enrolment up by 4.8 per cent this fall.

At their Calgary campus, housed in the Bow Valley College building downtown, enrolment for adult learners has also gone up by 2.6 per cent.

“Our Calgary campus has been increasing in popularity over the last several years, there’s just a lot of adult learners wanting to upgrade skills, particularly in the evenings or on weekends,” said Mike Mahon, U of L president.

“But certainly, even more now, as those over 25 see all the challenges they’re facing with the economy they’re starting to explore other options looking to retool, refocus and look at new career opportunities.”

Mahon says some of the most popular upgrading or education enhancement programs are in management and health care at U of L’s Bow Valley College campus.

“People want to be more mobile and more flexible with their jobs, so when oil and gas jobs are harder to come by, they can still work in IT (information technology), human resources, or the financial sector.”

Mahon said he too is seeing the whole area of health care is becoming more popular among post-secondary students due to more opportunity and stability.

Pamela Walsh, vice-president advancement at Athabasca University, says that even though their enrolment is ongoing throughout the year because of the flexibility of their programs, demand has been rising steadily all year and will probably continue as the tough economy stays.

“We’re seeing increases in interest and enrolment across Alberta and we predict it will continue as we go forward.”

Walsh says adult learners at Athabasca are more interested in flexible courses that allow you to work full-time, part-time, or look for work as you study.

eferguson@calgaryherald.com