October 12, 2021 (Ottawa) – Eleven of Canada’s polytechnic institutions have banded together to raise awareness of the differentiated value of a polytechnic model of education.
Under the banner “Purpose, Applied,” the group will promote what makes polytechnic education a first choice among students, their parents and employers. All 11 institutions offer hands-on, applied learning in high-demand technical and technology-focused fields. Industry-focused and innovation-oriented programs make learners workforce-ready the day they graduate.
“The laser focus of our members on industry-relevant education is what sets polytechnics apart,” says Sarah Watts-Rynard, CEO at Polytechnics Canada, a national association of polytechnic institutions. “In any given program, they find ways to build in tangible workplace experience. Students participate in employer-driven challenges and projects, go out for work placements and co-ops, and build hands-on experience in cutting-edge labs and workshops. That intense focus on applying new skills is why more than 85 per cent of graduates are working in their field of study within six months of graduation.”
As part of the campaign, Canada’s polytechnics engaged Leger, a major Canadian market research company, to survey hiring managers and parents about their perception of polytechnic education. Among the research results, Leger reported that 90 per cent of employers who had hired a polytechnic graduate believed they had made a good choice. Two-thirds of employers said they actively seek out polytechnic graduates when hiring.
“The campaign will illustrate how deeply an innovation mindset is embedded into polytechnic training,” says Watts-Rynard. “As Canada emerges from the pandemic and tackles our biggest challenges – an aging population, technology adoption and climate change – polytechnic graduates will be increasingly critical. Simply put, they have the pragmatic skills to get things done.”
Campaign partners include:
- British Columbia Institute of Technology
- Conestoga College
- Fanshawe College
- George Brown College
- Humber College
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Red River College Polytechnic
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic
- Seneca
- Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
- Polytechnics Canada
To learn more, visit www.PurposeApplied.ca. A campaign video has also been released.
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For more information, contact:
Alexandra Hornby
Communications Coordinator