With Jorge Bettencourt—Coordinator & Professor, Insurance Program, Mohawk College
Mohawk’s Insurance program started in the early 1970s and is the longest running insurance program in Ontario. It’s a four-semester, two-year program and co-op program where students learn for three semesters then pursue a paid placement for eight to 12 months before returning for a final semester.
WHO TYPICALLY ENROLLS IN THE INSURANCE PROGRAM?
Mainly high school graduates from southern Ontario, people exploring a second career or WSIB individuals who want to become insurance professionals. A percentage are international students from all over the world who have chosen to attend our insurance program.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT THE BROKER CHANNEL?
The broker channel is highlighted in our insurance essentials course, our Broker course and within our other insurance courses. We also have a RIBO course that students can take once they graduate from the program—at the end of the course, students write their RIBO exam.
HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE PROGRAM?
As a result of the pandemic, all our classes have been virtual and have seen a significant decrease in international student enrollment. We’ve also noticed a general decrease in enrollment by 20–25%.
WHAT’S STUDENT INTEREST IN THE BROKER CHANNEL?
Given suppressed enrollment from the pandemic it’s difficult to say, but I’m sure we’ll see more interest in the future. We’ve always had a good percentage of our students go into the broker channel—especially with our program offering the RIBO course and students writing their exam at the end.
WHAT NEW INITIATIVES ARE YOU PLANNING?
In 2023, we’ll be introducing an analytics course for insurance students. As analytics is very important in the insurance industry, the course will help students in risk management and rating.