Programming brings benefits to students abroad and at NAIT
On Jan. 12, 1965, NAIT made what’s likely its first foray into sharing its brand of hands-on education abroad.
According to the The Nugget student newspaper, then-shop director O. Kingsep departed for Nigeria with J. P. Mitchell, vocational training director for Alberta at the time. “Their main function will be to advise on courses, buildings, and equipment in the feasibility of study connected with setting up of a Vocational Training school in Nigeria,” the paper reported.
History has proven the trip to be a prototype. Since then, NAIT has worked in and with some 60 countries looking to build local skilled workforces or enhance teaching facilities outside of Canada. The polytechnic serves as a guide. “We’re a centre of excellence,” says Jenna Ramirez, program manager for Corporate and Continuing Education International Operations.
“It's not just our educational model; it's also [our] spaces that are top of the line.”
The benefits apply not just to organizations, governments and schools abroad, but to NAIT students as well. Knowledge and funding ultimately make their way back to classrooms in Edmonton, says Len Ferry, a business development director with Corporate and Continuing education.
“We're able to learn so much when we're doing these projects; also, we're profitable.”
The outcome of that trip to Nigeria isn’t shared in future issues of The Nugget. But its impact is obvious in that a tradition of taking NAIT to the world was set in motion. For DestinNAITion Global, the polytechnic’s annual celebration of the international community on campus and NAIT’s contributions abroad, here’s a look at notable current and past projects with partners from around the world.
Ghana
Nine instructors from Ghanaian institutes came to NAIT for 10 months in 2022 to complete a customized program covering welding, pipefitting, instructing and more. They returned home to share their skills to help build the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector.
Read more about the Ghanaian students’ time at NAIT
Libya
Starting in 1997, the Waha Oil Company has sent employees to NAIT to study IT and networking. Students even bring their families to Edmonton, where Corporate and Continuing Education staff help them find housing, get established on campus, and more (including getting to know the city).
Think you may be a fit as a subject matter expert or instructor for an international project? Let us know.
Complete this short form
Argentina
Recently started, this project will see NAIT support a mining company in training locals in trades and technologies required to build mines in the Argentinian provinces of San Juan, La Rioja and Catamarca. The partnership will likely span several months or even years.
China, Harbin
Since 2004, NAIT has partnered with Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology in the city of Harbin to deliver instruction onsite in software development, systems analysis, web design and other aspects of digital media and IT. To date, more than 1,300 students have graduated from the program.
Cuba
From 2011 to 2016, NAIT worked with Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines to build capacity in trades including machining, instrumentation and power engineering, as well as management and leadership. The effort aimed to build a skilled workforce to help improve the Caribbean nation’s productivity and attract international investment.
Learn more about NAIT’s relationship with Cuba
Uganda
The Government of Uganda received funds from the World Bank to finance educational programs to help grow priority sectors such as agriculture, construction and manufacturing. Between 2018 and 2022, NAIT delivered training, expertise and consultation to create two centres of excellence in Uganda to deliver training in support of the construction industry.
Mexico
In 2011, Canadian-based Alamos Gold contacted NAIT about training workers for its mine in Sonora, a state in northwestern Mexico. In the following years, nearly 100 workers completed custom electrician, millwright and heavy equipment maintenance programming.
China, Tianjin
From 2005 to 2010, an agreement between Tianjin Polytechnic University in eastern China and NAIT enabled students to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Accounting in Edmonton. Hundreds of students completed, with some choosing to emigrate to Canada to pursue opportunities with Alberta employers.
United States of America
Since 2008, Weyerhaeuser – one of the world’s largest lumber producers – has relied on NAIT to develop training programs aimed at building skills among teams responsible for maintaining its mills. Cohorts travel from operations across the U.S. for millwright, machining and electrician training in labs and shops in Edmonton.
Kenya
With NorQuest College, NAIT is developing courses for several technical schools in Kenya. Subjects are wide-ranging, varying from gender-responsiveness to automotive repair to food and beverage management.
Greece
In 2023, the Hellenic Ministry of Climate and Crisis sent a cohort to NAIT to develop expertise in emergency management. Participants learned new skills in leadership, communication, cultural resilience and more – and even enjoyed a trip to Banff to take in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains.