History

From its inauguration into the competitive world of educational institutions in 1998, Ashton College has flourished into a respected private post-secondary college. Partnered with top industry organizations to provide relevant information, we offer leading programs in Business Administration, Accounting & Bookkeeping, Financial Services, International Trade, Immigration Consulting, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources and Business English Communication. Registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA) of BC, Ashton strives to establish itself as an option for individuals serious about a business education.

Achievements over the Years

From early 1999, the focus at Ashton College was negotiating academic partnerships with reputable institutes and organizations. Students wanted qualifications which were accepted by employers and enhanced their career opportunities, and we quickly acted on this demand.

Several organizations were identified as having the necessary credibility by the start of 2001. Agreements were reached with the Forum of International Trade Training (FITT), Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA), the Canada Institute of Management (CIM) and the American Management Association (AMA) and students were now able to enroll at Ashton for reputable industry qualifications.

Part-Time Studies Development

The very next year, Ashton College embarked upon a further project—the development of a part-time studies unit which would cater to students working during the day but wanting to qualify for a professional designation by studying evenings and weekends. The first designation program opened in July 2002 in partnership with the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). That same year, an Internship Program was developed and implemented with every effort being made to match a student to an employer based on their skills, training, experience and personal interests. Through the College's extensive connections within the industry, many successful placements were made.

Momentum followed through to 2003. Building on the success of that program, other partnerships were created to enable Ashton to offer the finest part-time studies programs in Financial Planning and Insurance. In order to accommodate the 80% increase in student enrolment, the College moved to new premises in May. To date, Ashton has 13 different partners and offers 12 different professional designations.

Our Advisory Board

To keep Ashton College relevant in the business industry, an Advisory Board was appointed in 2004. Comprised of business leaders from British Columbia, the Board keeps the College in touch with current business trends, advises on curriculum and represents the College at industry functions. As a visible body of leadership, influence and support, the Board provides a link to individuals and organizations with the resources, knowledge and contacts required for Ashton to achieve its purpose and fulfill its values.

Ashton in Alberta

In 2005, Ashton College began delivering part-time study programs in the cities of Calgary and Edmonton in the neighbouring province of Alberta. The Human Resources Management Diploma (DHRM) program launched initially as a full-time program and later as a part-time format.

Going Across Canada

Ashton College continued to expand its horizons by going coast to coast in 2006! Part-time studies programs were not only expanded to other BC cities (Victoria, Kelowna and Kamloops) but also to Toronto, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Immigration Consultant Diploma (IMCD) program started; the College has the prestige of being one of only five universities/colleges in Canada granted the right to deliver this program. In order to better facilitate the development of Faculty members, Professional Development Days were introduced and additional office accommodation was taken to house new staff members.

2007 saw Red Deer, Alberta become the newest city to host an Ashton College part-time studies program. Several new part-time courses were introduced to keep up with the public demand of better and more convenient education.

The following year Ashton College became a test centre and currently hosts numerous certification and licensing tests, including University of Cambridge, Immigration Consultants National Examination, CEBS, CAEL, PCAT and ASWB. Other college expansions include a part-time IMCD program opening in Surrey, and the Certified General Accountants Association of British Columbia permitting Ashton to offer Level 1, 2 and 3 courses towards the CGA Professional Studies Program. The Career Services Office is introduced on campus to provide students and alumni with career counseling services. An Alumni Association is formed to provide graduates with a voice and a networking forum.

Ashton College Today

Currently in 2009, a new student administration area has been opened to provide additional accommodation for staff and students. A new program in Certificate in Bookkeeping is launched, while work has also begun in opening a School of Health Sciences and Community Sciences. Plans are also finalized for the Distance Education portal to offer a variety of programs and courses, and the School of Continuing Education opens and begins offering continuing professional development courses. Ashton College becomes a member of the open source Sakai project. To simplify the enrolment process for students, a Student Registration System is developed by Ashton's IT Department and has launched successfully.

Ashton's faculty has also grown over the years. Starting with a small number of instructors, the college now has an extensive full-time and part-time faculty who are not only experienced instructors, but also seasoned practitioners. Students can look forward to intimate classes with a familiar teacher within a comfortable and encouraging learning environment.

Program development is at the centre of the college’s activities and new partnerships are regularly being explored.