L-R: Dr. Tonya Wolfe, Associate Vice-President, Applied Research, RDP; Stuart Cullum, President, RDP; Jennifer McCue, President & CEO, Bethany Care Society; and Brooke Schwartz, student enrolled within bachelor of science in psychology, RDP. (Supplied/Red Deer Polytechnic)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

INTERDISCIPLINARY TEACHING

RDP and Bethany Care Centre renew Memorandum of Understanding

May 13, 2025 | 1:47 PM

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) and Bethany Care Society have renewed a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue collaborating on teaching, learning and applied research.

The MOU is one way RDP works with industry partners to offer interdisciplinary environments for teaching and research.

“These innovation ecosystems allow our faculty and students to engage in real world challenges and opportunities that advance practice, technology adoption and skills development,” said Stuart Cullum, RDP president. “It is enhanced work-integrated learning for our students, and what makes this partnership even more unique, is that Bethany CollegeSide and CollegeSide Gardens are located on our campus.”

The renewed agreement is meant to enhance RDP’s industry-relevant programming. The institution says in the last year, about 100 students enrolled in programs such as bachelor of science in nursing, practical nurse diploma, occupational and physical therapist assistant diploma, health care aide certificate and social work diploma have experienced clinical and practicum placements with Bethany Care Society.

“This renewed MOU is a meaningful step in continuing to support quality of life and wellbeing for the residents and families we serve,” commented Jennifer McCue, President and CEO, Bethany Care Society. “Our partnership with RDP is resulting in care innovations, deeper community connections and enhanced training opportunities for future health care professionals.”

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One example of this collaboration is a multidisciplinary applied research project from last year that focused on developing assistive technologies. This connected RDP students, faculty and staff, Bethany CollegeSide residents and the Centre for Innovation in Manufacturing-Technology Access Centre (CIM-TAC).

RDP said the project involved identifying wellness challenges and collaboratively designing and prototyping solutions to enhance autonomy. Students of the Creative Think Tank course facilitated design workshops while visual art students worked with CIM-TAC technicians and engineers to develop the technologies.

The partnership between RDP and Bethany began in 2004, with the opening of Bethany CollegeSide and, later, CollegeSide Gardens (in 2010) on RDP’s main campus. Bethany CollegeSide provides specialized care for seniors and young adults with disabilities, while CollegeSide Gardens provides housing with a range of assisted living supports for seniors as they age.