Kitchener - The new economy will survive and thrive on skills - the kind of practical, career-related skills taught at a college. College offers reasonable tuition, hands-on practice, project-based learning, instruction from professional practitioners, small class sizes and excellent employment prospects.

Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning will open its doors to the general public and to applicants for admission at four Saturday events, called Explore Conestoga.

Three of the events are campus open houses - at Doon (Kitchener), Waterloo and Guelph. The fourth is an information display at Stratford’s Festival Marketplace Mall.

The Saturday campus events are scheduled as follows: March 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Waterloo campus, 108 University Ave. E.; March 28 from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Doon campus in Kitchener, 299 Doon Valley Dr.; and April 4 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Guelph campus, 460 Speedvale Ave. W. The staffed information display at the Stratford Festival Marketplace Mall is from 10 a.m.-12 noon on Saturday, April 18.

Increasingly, the value and productive purpose of college-based education is coming to the fore, as governments and business leaders realize the strong link between economic development, sustained global competitiveness and prosperity, and a well-educated population that has a full range of practical skills.

Conestoga is increasingly seen as an excellent first choice for post-secondary education. Enrolment has risen dramatically the last three years and is expected to rise again for 2009-2010.

At Waterloo on March 21, the focus is on two campus specialties - construction-related trades and the hospitality/culinary/tourism sector. There will also be an overview of available College services, campus tours and information on academic upgrading/career retraining opportunities.

At Doon on March 28, visitors have the opportunity to meet faculty and current students, see student projects, and visit labs and shops. In addition, the event will feature information booths outlining the many student service areas at Conestoga. On hand will be Conestoga admissions officers to explain application/admission procedures and to facilitate the process for any visitors who may wish to apply.

At Guelph on April 4, the emphasis will be on the trades, apprenticeship and technology programs featured at the campus - motive power trades, welding technology, industrial mechanics, millwright and others. The Guelph campus is also adding three business diploma programs this fall. As at the other campus-based Explore Conestoga sessions, there will be campus tours, an overview of available College services and information on academic upgrading/career retraining opportunities.

In Stratford, the intention is to present a full picture of Conestoga’s many learning opportunities in career fields as diverse as electronics, robotics, nursing, police and fire services, broadcasting and journalism, theatre production and graphic design, business administration, early childhood education, masonry, culinary arts and management, and automotive and truck technician, to name just a few of the College’s more than 250 programs. Attention will also be given to basic skills improvement opportunities in communications, literacy, math and sciences.