2024 – 2025 Annual Report
Partner Map
Our Mission
OntarioLearn is a consortium of institutions devoted to the development and delivery of high-quality, accessible, student-centred online learning opportunities.
Vision Statement
OntarioLearn is a national leader in post-secondary online education. This leadership will be ensured by maintaining the highest standards of curriculum design and delivery, leveraging our award-winning* cooperative model and pursuing ever-expanding markets.
*Canadian Association for Distance Education (CADE) 2006 award “Excellence and Innovation in Partnership/Collaboration”
Achievements at a Glance
2022 – 2023
First Year of
New Strategic Plan
- First year of the 2022-25 Strategic Plan, providing all the committees a new focus that supports member Colleges and Indigenous Institutes current goals
-
New partnership supporting the Nursing Program Transformation Initiative, including the launch of the Internationally Educated Nurse (IEN) Pathway and the Personal Support Worker (PSW) to Practical Nursing (PN) Pathway
-
80,330 course registrations achieved
2023 – 2024
Partnership Expansion
and Growth
- An expanded collaboration with College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading (CSCAU) joining our collaborative community to deliver their Learn to Learn and Support Courses
-
Continued partnership with the Nursing Program Transformation Initiative (NPTI) included the delivery/planning of additional pathways and the inclusion of the French Colleges
-
5.4% increase in year-over-year registrations. 84,662 course registrations achieved
2024 – 2025
Adapting to Disruption in Post-Secondary Sector
- IRCC changes to policies affecting international students impacted post-secondary education in Canada, especially Ontario Colleges. OntarioLearn enrolment began declining in Winter 2025
- The French Colleges offered courses through OntarioLearn for the first time as part of the Nursing Program Transformation Initiative (NPTI)
- 2.1% decrease in enrolment from previous year. 82,914 course registrations achieved
A Message from the Chair
A Message from the Chair
Dear OntarioLearn Community,
It is an honour to write to you for the first time as Chair of OntarioLearn. My thanks to Past Chair Michelle DeCoste for her leadership and to Executive Director Anne Renaud and the OntarioLearn team for an exceptionally well‑managed year of transition and delivery.
Amid sector‑wide disruption – driven in part by policy changes affecting international students – we continued to serve learners at scale, supporting 82,914 course enrolments in 2024/25 (‑2.1% YoY) with retention near 90%.
A milestone for our consortium was welcoming La Cité and Boréal to offer courses on OntarioLearn for the first time through the Nursing Program Transformation Initiative (NPTI) – broadening access for French‑speaking learners and strengthening our province‑wide collaboration.
We also advanced flexibility and innovation in how learners engage: monthly and weekly intakes now complement semester delivery, and private/privately shared streams account for 12.5% of activity – new capacity that helps institutions respond quickly to demand.
Behind the scenes, we made tangible improvements to quality and technology – continuing our QM‑based QA, selecting Anthology Ally to enhance accessibility, piloting online proctoring to support academic integrity, and initiating Blackboard Ultra migration – so that OntarioLearn remains a reliable, modern learning environment.
Given the volatility facing colleges, the Board has extended our 2022–25 Strategic Plan into 2026. Our focus remains clear: quality, digital enablement, innovation, and sustainable growth—delivered through the shared strength of our consortium.
Thank you for your commitment to Ontario’s learners.
Warm regards,
Don Duclos
Chair, OntarioLearn
A Progressive Leader in Online Education
OntarioLearn is a progressive leader in the collaborative sharing and delivery of quality online education. With over 1.5 million course enrolments since its inception in 1995 and a student retention rate of 90%, OntarioLearn has proven it delivers what learners want and need.
Governed by the 24 Ontario colleges, the consortium works as a synergistic, responsive and dynamic group to develop and deliver flexible, demand-driven online learning focused on the needs of Ontario’s online post-secondary learners. Additional post-secondary institutions and other organizations with values that align with the colleges participate in various business streams within the consortium and expand the opportunity for relevant online learning for learners in Ontario. This partnership approach allows members to optimize resources and deliver one of the largest inventories of high-quality online programs and courses in North America. The Board of Directors, along with recommendations from a Management Committee, provide OntarioLearn with leadership and oversight.
Throughout the past year, several initiatives have been undertaken to improve access and enhance the online learning experience for learners.
Fostering Innovation
The collaboration with College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading (CSCAU) continued. CSCAU offered Learn to Learn and pre-ACE level courses (communication and numeracy support courses) through OntarioLearn throughout the year using a weekly intake schedule.
The continued partnership with Colleges Ontario and partner colleges included the development and delivery of programs as part of the Nursing Program Transformation Initiative. In a noteworthy milestone this year, the French Colleges (La Cité and Boréal) delivered courses in the Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) pathway, marking the first time these colleges have offered courses through OntarioLearn.
Flexibility
For learners balancing family, work, daily demands, or living in remote areas, online education provides a flexible alternative to rigid class schedules or lengthy commutes.
In the Winter 2025 survey, 61% of students chose online courses due to work schedules, 43% cited family obligations, and 42% preferred the online format.
Enhanced flexibility is provided through semester, monthly, and weekly intakes for select courses. This enables learners to choose a start date that best aligns with their individual requirements.
Diversity
Learners pursue online education for various reasons. OntarioLearn acknowledges these diverse motivations and provides support to all learners. This support extends to individuals preparing for career transitions, completing post-secondary education, those taking courses not offered at their local institutions, and individuals with needs that make campus travel challenging.
OntarioLearn 2024 – 2025
Board of Directors
Chair
Don Duclos
Vice Chair
Patrick Devey
VPA Liaison
Amanda Baskwill
Director
Cebert Adamson
Director
Lori Crosson
Director
Maher Ghalayini
Director
Nora Simpson
Director
Christine Eddy
If you need additional assistance, please contact:
ExecutiveDirector@ontariolearn.com.
