Quality of polytechnic education recognized with new sources of support
Whether for novel programs and initiatives or for its time-tested, hands-on education, NAIT continues to attract new funding from partners including government, industry and donors.
Here, we've gathered some of the biggest announcements of support for student scholarships, bursaries and program funding. Check back! We'll continue to add to it as news emerges.
5G comes to NAIT – to the benefit of industry
October 2023 – NAIT is now a testing ground for 5G-enabled technologies and training centre for those who work in the sector. Thanks to a partnership with Rogers Communications and funding of $3.8 million from the governments of Alberta and Canada, two 5G networks are being made available: one at the Productivity and Innovation Centre and another produced by a portable unit that can be set up anywhere.
5G is a new standard in celullar networks, providing higher speeds, greater capacity and lower latency, supporting everything from more devices per square kilometre to surgery performed remotely. Both NAIT networks will allow companies to validate 5G applications and technologies before bringing them to market. The polytechnic also offers self-paced courses on 5G principles and applications.
"By working with our partners on this advanced communication platform, we’re helping them prepare for the next generation of industry,” says Ryan Leskiw, director of business development with NAIT Applied Research.
New funding for additional apprenticeship seats
September 2023 – Thanks to a $4.9-million investment from the Government of Alberta, NAIT's is set to add more than 500 apprenticeship seats across
As a result, the polytechnic will educate 9,500 apprentices in the 2023/24 academic year.
This funding is in addition to the $15 million over three years announced by the provincial government earlier this year, which added more than 1,000 additional apprenticeship spaces across Alberta's post-secondary sector.
"This ensures the availability of seats in high-demand apprenticeship programs across critical sectors such as construction, manufacturing and transportation,” says Laura Jo Gunter, NAIT president and CEO.
Raising awareness of clean fuels
July 2023 – In September 2023, NAIT will launch a clean fuels online awareness and education program for academic, industry and government stakeholders. A series of webinars, which will also be available to the public, will examine variables that affect the carbon intensity of fuels, greenhouse gas calculations and clean fuel case studies. An online training module will follow in winter 2024.
The education and awareness program builds upon previous work by NAIT circular economy and clean technologies applied researchers, and is supported by a $300,000 grant from Natural Resources Canada.
Boosting partnerships and technology to preserve boreal ecosystems
May 2023 – NAIT’s Centre for Boreal Research has received $696,404 from Canada Foundation for Innovation’s College Fund for equipment and infrastructure. Enhancements will help the centre better support northern Alberta companies and their partners, including First Nations communities, to develop and implement effective and cost-efficient reclamation strategies to reach climate change goals and maintain the boreal ecosystem.
Specifically, the federal investment will bolster the centre’s research in plant and seed technologies, reforestation, and peatland and wetland restoration, as well as expand space for experiment preparation and capacity to deliver technical training.
NAIT to help reduce plastic waste in Alberta's beekeeping industry
April 2023 – The Agriculture Funding Consortium has committed $182,793 to a NAIT Applied Research project that aims to see less plastic discarded during honey production. Commercial beehives contain plastic sheets known as foundation, upon which bees build comb. Currently, those are hard to recycle, leading to waste.
Over the next two years, researchers at the ploytechnic will work with the Alberta Beekeepers Commission to develop a prototype for more easily recyclable foundation, keeping plastic in the circular economy longer (that is, in use and out of landfills) in a province that produces more honey than any other region in Canada.
Homebuilder Jay Westman leads initiative to boost support for trades education
October 2022 – Homebuilder Jay Westman believes the current affordable housing shortage can be addressed by boosting the number of apprentices. That’s where his campaign to raise $15 million to support trades education at NAIT and SAIT comes in. Here’s a look at the impact that funding will have on students and Alberta.
NAIT set to help newcomers put skills to work in building trades careers
October 2022 – Newcomers to Canada often arrive with skills that can make significant contributions to building local economies. Often, those skills must first be validated. Supported by $1.5-million over three years from the Government of Alberta, NAIT's Accelerated Trade Entry program aims to help bridge the gap.
Provincial funding supports three new micro-credential programs at NAIT
September 2022 – NAIT’s micro-credentials programming has received a boost thanks to $650,000 over two years from the Government of Alberta announced to develop new micro-credential programs at NAIT to help learners upskill and reskill in three program areas: construction leadership and supervision, intellectual property and point-of-care ultrasound.