A student at Saskatchewan Polytechnic is working with a local brewery to characterize the genetic identity of the firm’s proprietary yeast culture – just one of many partnerships between industry and the polytechnic.
With a new name and a new look, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is sending out a clear message to potential industry partners that it's open for business. "As a polytechnic, we are underlining the point that we are student-focused and employer-driven," says Larry Rosia, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. "What makes us different is our emphasis on applied learning that meets labour market needs, thus equipping students to build rewarding careers."
The newly branded school, previously known as the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, offers a full suite of programs – including apprenticeship training, certificates, two-year diplomas and bachelor degrees – with the depth of programming based on workplace requirements, particularly in the area of applied research. This not only adds value to business partners by helping them find solutions to real-world problems, it helps students validate concepts they are learning in the classroom. "As a result they are workplace-ready when they graduate," says Dr. Rosia. "They have the experience and confidence to move on."
Cristina Holguin-Pando, director, Office of Applied Research and Innovation, says that Saskatchewan Polytechnic is helping bolster the economy at all levels by aligning itself with "engines of growth" in the province as identified by the Saskatchewan Growth Plan and Innovation Saskatchewan, including mining, oil and gas, agriculture, bioscience, computer systems technology, minerals and energy research, transportation and manufacturing.
"We are inviting our industry partners to come and talk to us about their technical needs and challenges so that we can focus our expertise on helping solve them, and our students will 'learn by doing' in the search for these real-world solutions," she says.
Although Saskatchewan Polytechnic works with corporations big and small conducting product and process optimization research, prototyping, design and testing, proof-of-concept work, reduction-to-practice and just about anything else that has to do with business innovation, it is particularly welcoming to small and medium-sized businesses.
"They are truly the engines of growth and the job creators in our economy," says Ms. Holguin-Pando. "They have many good ideas but fewer resources with which to test them. We can help them offset their R&D costs and significantly lower their risk factor. That's good for them and allows our students to be engaged in cutting-edge research with the companies of tomorrow."
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is open for business at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, with 26,000 students ready, willing and able to help business find solutions.
This content was produced by Randall Anthony Communications, in partnership with The Globe and Mail's advertising department. The Globe's editorial department was not involved in its creation.