SASK POLYTECH HAS A NEW VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Bringing together business, entrepreneurs and students is the intent behind the new multi-disciplinary Saskatchewan Polytechnic project in Saskatoon, widely regarded as a once-in-ageneration opportunity to create a learning environment that supplies talent for existing and emerging industries.
Updating learning institutions to reflect the realities of the 21st century work world is a trend throughout North America, and Sask Polytech's vision is so dynamic that the province has committed up to $200 million to help bring the new campus (which might cost as much as $500 million) to fruition.
“We're excited by our progress to date,” says Larry Rosia, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “We've secured a site at the University of Saskatoon's Innovation Place, more fundraising is in the works, and we're studying initial designs: for example, what programs should be co-located close to one another so we can take advantage of synergies between programs. This is part of a phasing plan that will ultimately inform construction.”
Led by the Ministry of Saskbuilds and Procurement and Saskatchewan Polytechnic, partners continue to work on program review, financial planning and other deliverables.
The new campus will transform 11 outdated buildings spread across the city into a centre of excellence in applied learning and research, where technology-rich teaching will produce job-ready graduates in everything from health and bio sciences to hospitality, digital business and mining.
Better still, Rosia points out that the new hub will continue Saskatchewan Polytechnic's history of benefitting the province. “One in 19 jobs in Saskatchewan are supported by our institution, and we contribute $2.6 billion to the provincial economy,” he explains. “Our graduation rate is between 95 and 100 per cent, and at least 91 per cent of those graduates stay in Saskatchewan.
“The new hub will take our success to the next level by increasing our ability to attract investment to Saskatchewan and Canada.”
Currently, Saskatchewan Polytechnic operates 150 programs, “all with jobs waiting on the other side,” according to Rosia. But since programming is delivered at multiple locations, learners receive unequal levels of core services and are unable to take advantage of program synergies. Moving them into a single technologyrich site invites a strong student presence and inspires innovation, as well as regular collaboration with the University of Saskatchewan, Innovation Place, regional businesses and entrepreneurs.
Rosia says, “Sask Polytech will be able to train students in different uses of new technology, for example, the increasing prevalence of digital mining in which resource extraction is conducted remotely. Nuclear, wind and solar energies will also drive new programming, as will Canada's net-zero goals.”
He notes that Sask Polytech's programs are more in demand than ever. “Our enrolment is growing by 25 per cent, so the time to create the new campus is now,” Rosia says, adding that construction with likely take 18 months or more and the general idea is to develop flexible, reconfigurable spaces that can accommodate evolving technology.
“Every industry is being disrupted, and education should be no different. What we're doing is bringing an entire innovation ecosystem together, becoming part of what I call a polytechnic moment — because I truly believe that polytechnics are well positioned to solve the global talent and labour shortage.”