University partnership preps youth to pursue higher education

The University of Ottawa and the City of Ottawa handed out certificates to 30 students graduating from its Youth University program tonight. Youth University is a partnership between the University of Ottawa, the City’s departments of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services and Community and Social Services and private sector partners that targets first-generation post-secondary students and offers them a taste of campus life every summer. First-generation post-secondary students are students from families who have never attended post-secondary education.
“The City is pleased to be partnering with the University of Ottawa on such an important initiative,” said Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien. “By providing these students with access to paid summer jobs, training and mentoring, we are enabling them to pursue their dream of higher education.”
Youth University is offered in both official languages. In addition to paid employment, the program provides students with leadership training, volunteer experiences, first aid certification and, for two weeks in August, regular full-time workshops given by university professors that expose the students to the possibilities of post-secondary education.
“Youth University is an incredible program that helps remove barriers that hinder youth from attending post-secondary institutions,” said University of Ottawa President Alan Rock. “We started this program in 2008 to increase the number of University applicants by offering disadvantaged youth an opportunity to expand their skill set, find paid summer employment, and experience University life.”
Each year, the program receives applications from students across the city interested in participating. This year, 30 students will receive the certificate for all three components of the program: leadership in training, paid employment, and the university experience.
“This year we expanded our program not only in terms of content, but in the number of accepted applicants as well due to its growing popularity,” said Mitchell Kutney, Coordinator, Youth University “In the future, we hope to partner with other post-secondary institutions so that we can help even more youth realize their dream of post-secondary education.”
More information on the program is available from the University of Ottawa website at www.YU.uottawa.ca

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