Ontario universities are aiming for a fall launch of a new on-line resource that will enable all students to identify their interests, relate them to programs offered at Ontario universities and, with the click of a mouse, connect to the institution(s) offering the program(s).
Researched and developed by the Council of Ontario Universities’ Task Force, the webbased program will be accessible to all students. It will be particularly valuable to students in Grades 9 and 10 who face important decisions concerning future high school course selections that will determine their eligibility for admission to the university program(s) in which they are interested.
Students enter myfuture.ca via a single portal, housed at the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. After a series of easy-to-follow steps that help link their interests to related university programs, students identify one or more programs for further exploration. They are then presented with a list of universities offering their program selection(s), and can connect to these university sites for more information.
The program also enables students to connect to other sites in the course of their investigation (such as those focused on career planning and application procedures) to provide them with guidance and direction. A “tips” feature will enable them to review helpful pointers on what they should be considering when weighing university options, and a “help” section will ensure that they are taking full advantage of the site’s entire features.
Guiding students and collecting information for them as they move through the program will be an appealing, animated character who partners with students during their search and helps make their visit both informative and fun.
Implementation planning for myfuture.ca is now well underway. The site will be launched at the annual Ontario Universities’ Fair, to be held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in September 2001. Simultaneous launches will take place in local university communities across the province.
For further information:
Arnice Cadieux
Executive Director, Public Affairs
(416) 979-2165 ext. 224
Ken Lavigne
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 2263
