Red Deer College High Fidelity Simulation Lab creates complex and realistic scenarios for health care students. (Supplied photo)

By JPBG News Staff

Alberta colleges adapting to meet needs of students, industry

Mar 31, 2021 | 3:52 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As Alberta’s economy recovers and moves forward, Alberta’s colleges say they are ready to lead the way by providing real world experience and cutting-edge research to support Albertans and the communities where they live.

“Red Deer College is proud to provide our students with work-integrated learning opportunities. This provides learners at RDC, and in all of Alberta’s colleges, with a competitive advantage as they graduate and find success in their chosen careers,” says Dr. Peter Nunoda, RDC President.

RDC, Medicine Hat, NorQuest, Grande Prairie and Lakeland are among the colleges launching new programs in Fall 2021, in areas as varied as health care, science, agriculture, accounting and humanities. New technologies – such as Bow Valley College’s adoption of virtual reality technology into its Practical Nurse program, and Red Deer College’s High Fidelity Simulation Lab, which creates complex and realistic scenarios for health care students, give students the skills needed to excel in industry.

Alberta’s colleges are also working to solve industry challenges through applied research and innovative partnerships. Lethbridge College, Olds College and Bow Valley College are all ranked among Canada’s top 50 research colleges, with Bow Valley and Lethbridge both placing in the top three nationally for fastest growing research colleges in 2020.

Lethbridge College’s Integrated Agriculture Technology Centre connects small- and medium-sized agriculture enterprises with technologies and research expertise at the college, while Olds College’s Centre for Innovation and Smart Farm play a leadership role in industry-led agriculture technology applied research activities. Grande Prairie Regional College recently celebrated the establishment of the Evaskevich Centre for Health Research and Innovation, which provides work-integrated learning opportunities integral to advancing rural, northern and Indigenous health research.

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Portage College is collaborating with Indigenous communities to support Cenovus Energy Inc.’s Indigenous Housing Initiative through a 24-week Construction and Trades Readiness program; it is also partnering with Conestoga College and the Government of Canada to offer tuition-free programming aimed at developing tradespeople. Meanwhile, Northern Lakes College supports a vast region of northern Alberta through its Supported Distance Learning delivery model, which is about meeting every student need, wherever the student may be.

International students at Medicine Hat College are supported through various initiatives, while Intercultural Development Training and the certificate in Global and Intercultural Studies are offered to all MHC students to encourage intercultural skills development. Meanwhile, NorQuest College is one of four post-secondary institutions in Canada participating in a two-year pilot program that integrates English language learning with health-care aide training, enabling Albertans with English language barriers to access specialized and comprehensive education. And Keyano College offers Caucuses, which are open, safe, equitable and inclusive spaces for marginalized voices.

Through these many varied activities, and countless other initiatives, Alberta’s CCCs are ensuring they remain active and relevant to meet the needs of learners and the provincial economy.