Opinions

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.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s transition to registered nursing in Canada”

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.

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

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.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: Humber’s international development journeys”

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.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How Conestoga is inspiring sustainability in research and academics”

Developing new products is an iterative process of design, test, fail and repeat, requiring a diverse skillset that includes research, design and creative problem-solving. Reflecting on the insightful conversations held at the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase in May, Polytechnics Canada connected with speakers from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) to discuss their session Learning Grounded in Design for Extremes: ALTA – A Portable Hyperbaric Chamber for use in High Altitude.

Sue Fairburn, Chair of Research and Design, recently shared how the Wilson School of Design is encouraging students to apply their design skills to some of today’s most-pressing challenges, including human distress at high altitude.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How Kwantlen Polytechnic University is innovating for extreme challenges”

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.

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

From improving healthcare to confronting climate change, polytechnics have a front-row seat to industry’s most pressing talent and productivity challenges. Ahead of the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase, Polytechnics Canada connected with Fanshawe to discuss their session Guardians of the Digital Realm: Exploring the Symbiosis of Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.

The Associate Dean at Fanshawe’s School of Information Technology, Dr. Dev Sainani, shares how the institution is preparing students for success in an increasingly digital world.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How Fanshawe is Exploring the Symbiosis of Cybersecurity and AI”

In the tapestry of Canadian identity, few symbols resonate as deeply as maple syrup. Whether it’s drizzled over a stack of pancakes, made into maple candy or exchanged as a gift, this delicacy embodies Canada.

As the 2024 maple syrup season comes to a close, it is difficult to overlook the notable challenges confronting Canada’s agricultural sector, particularly with high grocery costs, labour shortages and the escalating impacts of climate change splashed across daily newspapers.

Read More > “Pursuing Solutions in Canada’s Food Sector”

In 2017, six institutions with longstanding ties and a common focus on the polytechnic model of education formed the Global Partners European Alliance, renamed Global Polytechnic Education Alliance in 2022. The GPEA focuses on building comprehensive relationships and global collaborative opportunities related to academics, applied research, professional development and community outreach. The group will offer sessions at this year’s Polytechnic Showcase, with more than two dozen representatives joining us in Ottawa.

Polytechnics Canada caught up with one of the group’s leaders, Glendali Rodriguez, Provost and Vice Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, to learn more about their interest in connecting with Canadian counterparts.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase spotlight: Global Polytechnic Education Alliance”