Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff

By Shaun Penner

Polytechnic Institute

GPRC to become polytechnic institution

May 11, 2021 | 2:18 PM

Grande Prairie Regional College is becoming a polytechnic institution.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides made the virtual announcement Tuesday afternoon alongside Acting President and CEO of GPRC Dr. Glenn Feltham and Chair of the Board of Governors Bridget Hennigar, among other local delegates.

Nicolaides says the transition to polytechnic status for Grande Prairie Regional College will allow the school create programming that will support students, businesses and local industry by offering needed degree programs, as well as apprenticeship, certificate and diploma programs.

“I am thrilled that Grande Prairie Regional College will become a polytechnic institution,” said Nicolaides.

“This move will ensure students will be able to meet their educational needs in their own backyard. Empowering students with job-ready skills helps grow the community, and attracts new investment to the province.”

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Polytechnics, like the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), offer a wide range of programming with an increased focus on applied learning opportunities.

GPRC will also be joining Red Deer College as a polytechnic, as RDC’s transition to polytechnic status was announced just last week.

“Polytechnic status will empower GPRC to expand our program offerings,” said Dr. Feltham. “We will grow. It positions our institution to meet the labour market needs for highly skilled graduates, and to support the broader aspirations of northwestern Alberta.”

A new name for the institution has not yet been chosen but is expected to be announced in the coming months. The province says it will continue to work with Grande Prairie Regional College to ensure a successful transition to polytechnic status.

Nicolaides adds he is hoping the order in council to officially transfer GPRC to a polytechnic status under the Post Secondary Learning Act will be approved by cabinet this fall.

While GPRC will be able to offer degrees, this announcement is a pivot from the NDP’s decision in 2018 to allow GPRC to transition to a university.

That transition was paused by Nicolaides and his department in 2020, as they awaited the final recommendations from the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs panel. That panel’s findings, unveiled in April, looked to better align labour market needs with available education programs in the region.

“We must do everything possible to ensure graduates are equipped with the skills they need, for the local jobs they want.”

With that, it was determined a polytechnic model would better offer a wide range of programming, including degree programs, and continue to offer trades apprenticeship education.

The school has already submitted a proposal for a new degree program, a bachelor of Computing Science program, which is under review.