Department of Advanced Education: About us

The Department of Advanced Education oversees post-secondary education throughout the province to help people learn and develop the skills they need. We work with universities, NSCC and private career colleges to help them provide programs, courses and inclusive learning environments. We also administer student assistance (student loans) and post-secondary accessibility services, and provide support for programming that creates equitable, diverse and inclusive post-secondary education.

• helping make sure that learners receive high-quality post-secondary education that meets their learning needs
• working with post-secondary education partners to help make education more accessible by removing barriers (like financial)
• providing direction and support to create and improve equitable, diverse and inclusive post-secondary education throughout the province
• leading how the calls to action from the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada for post-secondary education are addressed
• working with industry and post-secondary education partners to make sure that programs and courses support social and economic growth

The Department of Advanced Education has about 70 staff in Halifax.

• supporting the improvement of healthcare by helping people access, learn and develop the skills they need to work in the healthcare system
• supporting innovation and research
• improving the accessibility of post-secondary education
• supporting diversity and inclusion
• implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action for post-secondary education through policy and programing support
• making sure post-secondary education supports the social and economic growth of the province