School of Social Work

First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI)

Since 2003, Ryerson University's School of Social Work has had a partnership with First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI), an Indigenous community organization located in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory located near Belleville Ontario. This partnership delivers courses off-campus to Indigenous students obtaining a Ryerson Bachelor of Social Work degree.

Since most students are already employed in social service areas, the courses are offered in an intensive format, one week at a time, interspersed with at least one month before the next week of instructions. Each cohort of students takes the same courses at the same time in order to build mutual support and a sense of community among students.

Every two years a new cohort of about 18 to 22 students gains admission to Ryerson University, and since 2007, forty-six students have graduated from this program with their BSW.

Traditional Indigenous Elders and Practitioners provide Indigenous content in most courses in this program to honour and respect Indigenous knowledge and World Views.

This program operates under a formal agreement signed by Ryerson University and FNTI. Program Management Committee guides the program and consists of represetatives from FNTI, our School, and Ryerson's Aboriginal Student Services.

Ben Carniol, Professor Emeritus, is Ryerson's Program Coordinator for this program and works closely with FNTI staff and administrators to carry out this program.

For more information on the Ryerson Bachelor of Social Work Degree for FNTI students, please refer to, please click here.

Students in the FNTI-Ryerson program should refer to the FNTI website for schedule information.