National Indigenous Education Symposium 2025

Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and the Indigenous Institutes Consortium (IIC) are pleased to announce this year’s National Indigenous Education Symposium will take place October 26-28, 2025, in Calgary, Alberta.

Call for proposals is open to CICAN and IIC MEMBERS only.

Timeline 
Submissions Close: Monday September 15, 2025, 11:30pm (MT)
Acceptance Notification: By September 19, 2025

Join leaders in education, policy, and industry for a two-day gathering focused on advancing economic reconciliation through Indigenous-led education by removing barriers and creating opportunities. Attendees from across Turtle Island will explore innovative practices and impactful programs that strengthen Indigenous learner success, foster entrepreneurship, support labour mobility, and elevate Indigenous-led research.

Symposium Objectives

• Stimulate a national dialogue on the role of Indigenous institutes and public colleges, CEGEPs, and polytechnics in advancing Indigenous economic reconciliation, emphasizing their leadership in skills development, innovation through Indigenous-led research and entrepreneurship.  

• Position the central role of Indigenous institutes, colleges, CEGEPs, and polytechnics in bringing solutions to the most pressing challenges faced by Indigenous communities and Canada as a whole, through skills training, research, and innovation to address workforce demands from accelerated infrastructure and housing projects, increase access to healthcare, support climate resilience, and drive local economic and social development. 

• Examine the future of Indigenous education through the lens of emerging technologies—such as AI, digital sovereignty, and innovation—while addressing the digital divide and supporting Indigenous language revitalization efforts. 

• Strengthen the role of Indigenous institutes, colleges, CEGEPs, and polytechnics in supporting Indigenous-led curriculum development, land-based learning, and culturally grounded holistic learner services, cultural continuity, and community well-being - anchored in the right to self-determined education and lifelong learning. 

• Convene Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders from postsecondary education, business, government, and community sectors to build meaningful partnerships, exchange knowledge, and co-create solutions that reflect Indigenous values, foster self-determination for Indigenous communities, and contribute to shared prosperity for Indigenous people and all Canadians. 

Selection Process

Each proposal will be assessed by reviewers using the criteria below. CICan and IIC will use the ratings and comments to create the overall program with the objective of ensuring that the Symposium program includes a well-balanced mix of high-quality sessions that will meet the diverse interests of attendees.  

Please note that there are only a limited number of sessions available. 

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Will involve more than one CICan or IIC member institutions and/or partner organizations.

• Will provide attendees with broadly applicable lessons, tools and ideas which participants can bring back to their institution, organization, or community. 

• Will inspire attendees with new, high-impact and solutions-oriented initiatives or research.

• Will equip attendees with new skills or strengthen existing skills,

• Will promote active learning by making effective use of audience engagement techniques.

• Is relevant to the overall event theme of Economic Reconciliation in Motion: Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities and Fostering Inclusive Growth and fits within a specific stream. 

Recommendations for Preparing a Successful Proposal

• Know your audience. Ensure your proposal is likely to be relevant and useful to attendees and includes the takeaways. 

• Focus your proposal on something specific and unique with implications for the future of the PSE system (e.g., a successful initiative or research project). 

• Find partners from other institutions. Proposals that offer insights from multiple institutions engaged in similar work will be given priority.