Alex Hornby, Author at Polytechnics Canada

Commercialization is critical for Canadian productivity. Colleges can help

By Ricardo Arena | October 9, 2024 | Originally featured in The Globe and Mail

While Canada’s weak productivity performance is not a new phenomenon, its impact is beginning to show more than ever.

Families are struggling with inflated living expenses, reduced job security and the high cost of housing, leaving many feeling as though they are falling behind. Small and mid-sized companies – the backbone of the economy – are burdened by long-standing capital investment challenges and rising operational costs, bogging down their ability to lead an economic expansion.

All signs point to the need to fire up Canada’s innovation engine. Postsecondary institutions can help.

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Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Federal Budget

August 6, 2024 | 1.24MB | Download pdf >

Key recommendations include:

Make the Budget 2023 investment in the College and Community Innovation Program permanent
Establish a $46-million Polytechnic & College Research Growth Fund to propel applied research solutions to Canada’s major challenges
Invest $50 million over five years in cybersecurity at Canada’s polytechnics and colleges
Provide sustained funding to support work-integrated learning for post-secondary students and enable upskilling for mid-career workers
Establish a Canadian Work Experience Pilot to encourage international students to study in priority fields
Prioritize the retention and completion of apprentices in high-demand trades

2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s transition to registered nursing in Canada

By Christa MacLean, Monica Gretchen | July 25, 2024

Nurses represent the largest share of health workers, with over 28 million worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020), yet Canada is struggling to retain and meet the labour demand due to a nationwide shortage. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, Polytechnics Canada connected with Saskatchewan Polytechnic to discuss their session Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s IENnovative Approach: Transition to Registered Nursing in Canada, highlighting their efforts to prepare internationally trained nurses for positions in Canada.

Christa MacLean, Dean of the School of Nursing and the School of Health Sciences, and Monica Gretchen, Academic Chair of the School of Nursing, recently shared how Saskatchewan Polytechnic is responding to their province’s demand for nurses.

2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is providing world-class applied student learning experiences

By Jamie McInnis | July 22, 2024

Polytechnics are supporting graduate success by equipping students with skills, connections and mindsets tailored to a new world of work. At the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) profiled their approach to student engagement at every touchpoint of the journey to, through and after attending the applied learning institution.

Jamie McInnis, Director of Applied Research and Innovation Services at SAIT, shared how the institution’s digital storytelling platform and Capability Framework not only enhance student engagement but also ensure that graduates are well-prepared to meet emerging industry needs.

2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: Humber’s international development journeys

By Clarisse Estebar | July 16, 2024

Polytechnics are solving some of Canada’s most pressing challenges, driving business innovation and developing next-generation talent in highly technical, hands-on occupations. So it is no surprise that institutions are well-positioned to address environmental, economic and social challenges abroad through global partnerships. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, Polytechnics Canada connected with Clarisse Estebar, Humber’s International Development Lead, to discuss their session International Development: The Humber Journey.

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Response to the Capstone Research Organization Consultation

July 15, 2024 | 128.32KB | Download pdf >

Key recommendations include:

Identify priorities and focus for the new capstone research organization
Assess capacity and expertise to address those priorities across the research ecosystem
Encourage and support inter-disciplinary partnerships, including with industry partners who are positioned to test and implement research findings

2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How Conestoga is inspiring sustainability in research and academics

By Anna Hohenadel, Nicole Detlor | July 8, 2024

Polytechnics are playing an important part in addressing the twin urgencies of developing a green-ready workforce and helping industry adopt sustainable practices. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, Polytechnics Canada connected with speakers from Conestoga to discuss their session, Inspiring Sustainability in Research and Academics.

Anna Hohenadel, Accreditation Consultant at Conestoga’s School of Business and Nicole Detlor, Director of the Conestoga Food Research & Innovation Lab (CFRIL), elaborated on Conestoga’s ongoing efforts to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through campus operations, research and curriculum. They emphasized how these initiatives meet the growing local, regional and international demand for food research and innovation.

Transnational cooperation beyond the European Higher Education Area

By Sarah Watts-Rynard | July 3, 2024 | Originally featured in EURASHE

Against a backdrop of discussion largely focused on European Universities Alliances, a panel made up of Preeti Nair (India), David Ross (Canada) and Ahmed Samy (UAE) provided interesting insights about opportunities for transnational cooperation with those outside Europe.

Moderated by Hilligje van’t Land of the International Association of Universities, discussion reflected optimism that applied post-secondary education is increasingly being recognized by governments and industry partners as an essential part of global advanced education systems. While this attention draws partners and funding to universities of applied science and polytechnics, it also challenges institutions to stay ahead in an environment of rapid technological change and societal transformation.

2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is Supporting Indigenous Communities and Their Sustainability Efforts

By Carol Wildcat, Olle Lagerquist | June 11, 2024

Like countries around the world, Canada is confronting the increasingly urgent realities of climate change. Indigenous communities are known for having a strong affinity with the natural environment and are particularly engaged in finding sustainability solutions for the current climate crisis. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held last month at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase, Polytechnics Canada connected with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to discuss their session NAIT Industry Solutions: Supporting Indigenous Communities and Their Sustainability Efforts.

Carol Wildcat, Consultation Director at Ermineskin Cree Nation and Olle Lagerquist, Associate Vice President of Industry Solutions at NAIT, recently shared how their partnership marries Western methodologies and the traditional knowledge of Indigenous communities to solve today’s pressing environmental challenges.