According to the 2022-23 Key Performance Indicators (KPI) data released by Colleges Ontario on February 24, Conestoga boasts the top graduation rate of all Ontario colleges at 72.9 per cent, ahead of the provincial average of 65 per cent.
According to the 2022-23 KPI data released by Colleges Ontario, Conestoga boasts the top graduation rate of all Ontario colleges at 72.9 per cent.
The annual KPI survey, conducted since 1998, collects and reports performance data for Ontario colleges in a number of areas. Graduate employment rates, graduate satisfaction and employer satisfaction are among the indicators the Ministry of Colleges and Universities uses to assess and recognize colleges’ achievements in preparing students for the labour market.
In addition to having Ontario’s top graduation rate, Conestoga also posted strong numbers in the areas of graduate satisfaction and graduate employment.
Conestoga’s graduate employment rate is the highest among colleges in the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe areas. Within six months of graduation, 90 per cent of Conestoga graduates were able to find employment, and more than 80 per cent of graduates reported they were very satisfied with their experience at Conestoga.
More than 92 per cent of employers report being “very satisfied” with Conestoga graduates, in line with the provincial average of 91.8 per cent.
“The KPI data underscores the important contribution Conestoga and its graduates make to the regions we serve," said President John Tibbits. "We are building on this success to ensure we develop the skilled workforce needed for future growth and prosperity as well.”
The recent KPI data aligns with results from Conestoga’s recent economic impact report. Adapting for Prosperity III: Addressing Critical Needs shows the impact of the college and its graduates on the local economy by providing educational opportunities to both younger and older workers to adapt to the changes and challenges of the economic environment.
Highlights of the study:
- Conestoga graduates add more than $6.2 billion annually to the province’s economy, nearly a three-fold increase from $2.3 billion reported in 2017.
- Conestoga’s local graduates, Continuing Education and Corporate Training students who are working represent almost 60 per cent of local resident employment.
- The employment rate of Conestoga’s international graduates is virtually the same as domestic graduates: 84.8 per cent and 85.9 per cent, respectively.
- More than 5,200 Conestoga graduates are local entrepreneurs, and across Ontario more than 7,700 businesses are owned by Conestoga alumni.
Conestoga was established in Kitchener in 1967. Since then, the college has expanded significantly to deliver in-demand career and skills training to more than 45,000 students in eight communities and their surrounding areas in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford, Milton, Stratford and Ingersoll. The college delivers a comprehensive range of career-focused programs including diplomas, degrees and post-graduate certificates.