By Sheldon Spackman

University Transition

Ward updates local business leaders on RDC’s university transition

Apr 3, 2019 | 3:01 PM

Members of the local business community heard first-hand on Wednesday the latest update regarding RDC’s university transition.

Speaking during a Red Deer and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon, RDC President and CEO Joel Ward outlined the new model of university being designed and the imaging of Red Deer University (RDU) 10 years on.

“I talked to them about why a university is important to a region,” says Ward. “We talked about the economic growth that can take place because of a university. I shared with them some numbers around what we already contribute, over $500 million each year to the economic growth of central Alberta because of the activities of this institution.”

Ward says with plans for the institution to double its enrolment to roughly 15,000 students over the next 10 years, a doubling in economic development is also anticipated down the line as well.

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“At some point in the next 10-15 years, this institution could be contributing almost a billion dollars to the economy in central Alberta, so that’s why a university is important,” declares Ward. “Then I shared with them the type of institution we’re trying to build here and to solicit their support to make sure that we don’t lose our way. It’s the type of institution that is about work-integrated learning, opportunities for students to do co-ops, internships and practicums for them.”

“We want to be the type of institution that recognizes prior learning and doesn’t make you start all over again,” continues Ward. “We want to be the type of institution that does the kind of research that supports small and medium enterprise and social agencies. So as we build this new institution, we want them to know what we’re building and how we’re going to be different.”

Ward notes however that mainstays such as the trades, one and two-year programs and the College’s new degree-granting programs will all still be offered moving forward.

“For us to be successful, we need to be able to connect directly to the jobs of today and the jobs of the future,” he exclaims. “A few people came up to me afterwards and said ‘Right-on what you’re trying to do, I think the type of institution you’re trying to build is exactly what’s needed, we can’t be like everybody else.’ We need to be the type of institution that looks at, ‘What’s the third level of advanced manufacturing, what is robotics, artificial intelligence, what is bitcoin, what new type of programs do we need to offer to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow?”

Ward says the local business community can help in this endeavor.

“If you’re interested as a business and you want to have a student as an intern or a co-op placement or do a project for you, get registered with our Work-Integrated Learning Office,” explains Ward. “Then we can help our students find opportunities to practice what they learned in the community, so we ask them for that.”

Although the ability to start using the name RDU is still a year or two away according to Ward, he reveals they’re ahead of the curve in that respect.

“We’re making great progress on the work that needs to get done,” admits Ward. “We have put together a transition office and a transition leader. Dr. Torben Andersen, our Associate Vice President in charge of transition to work with quality council, work with government, work with our finance and budget areas, our academic area to put together the final document that says ‘You guys are ready’.”

“It’s clear to me this concept has been embraced by this community,” exclaims Ward. “The support is there and as they continue to advocate for us and we continue to advocate with government, we can accelerate this process. So I just ask people to keep talking about it, keep pushing for it, talk to your MLA’s, talk to council and make sure that they know you’re on-board and we want to get moving as quickly as possible on all of this rather than dragging our heels.”