LC recognized for research

City college among top 50 in Canada

For the second year in a row, and the fifth time in the last six years. Lethbridge College has been recognized as one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges in the country. The Research Infosource released the rankings last week, and Lethbridge College placed 50th in the 2018 rankings.

The college focuses on applied research that helps meet the needs identified by industry and its Centre for Applied Research and Innovation is a catalyst for economic growth, sustainability and social development in southern Alberta.

“This ranking recognizes our commitment to applied research and the benefits it provides both to our college and our community,” says Kenny Corscadden, Associate Vice-President Research. “We have created a rich research ecosystem. Many faculty are actively engaged in innovation and meaningful research with diverse topics, and have been able to engage students who benefit from their experiences.”

Lethbridge College has an annual research budget of $1.6 million and has provided valuable support this year to 64 industry partners.

The college added some new energy to its applied research activities by appointing Corscadden as the first associate vice-president research. Over the past year, the college has also launched a new entrepreneurship and innovation program, called Agriculture Enterprise, and received its first Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council institutional grant.

The grant expanded the

The grant expanded the Centre of Applied Research and Innovation by building its research support team, started new Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council funded projects, and introduced a strategic research plan to the college community.

“Applied research allows our faculty, students and researchers to spread their wings and affect change in areas that align with their expertise,” says Samantha Lenci, Provost and Vice President Academic. “We are actively looking for industry partners to engage with us on projects that will have a positive impact on our communities and industries that lead to changes that support our region through social improvements and economic diversification.”

The college’s new variety of projects compliment established work that continues in the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, in the Citizen Society Research Lab and by the Mueller Applied Research Chair in Irrigation Science.

Research Inforsource rankings are based on data obtained through surveys of publicly-funded colleges and from 2016-17 financial statements. Lethbridge College has earned a top-50 ranking in five of the six years that Research Inforsource has conducted these rankings.

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