Over $5.3 million in funding for post-secondary institutions

The Alberta government invested over $5.3 million into the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge College and Medicine Hat College through the Alberta at Work initiative. The money will go toward supporting programs in agriculture, health care, science and IT and provide 84 new seats over three years in these programs. The U of L will receive $3.7 million, Lethbridge College $1.2 million, and Medicine Hat College will receive $324,000.

Demetrios Nicolaides, the Minister of Advanced Education, says the bulk of the funding is going to strengthen instructional capacity, “Bringing on additional faculty, ensuring there’s the proper course material that’s required. It’s not going to physical infrastructure to expand facilities. It’s for operations.”

“I think the future of higher education in this province is about collaboration. It’s about ensuring that our colleges and our universities work closely together to maximize our resources as a province. But to also look at the unique contributions that can be made to students by having different institutions contribute to the education of those students.” states Mike Mahon, the President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lethbridge.

Kenney Corscadden, the Associate Vice President Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Lethbridge College adds that these types of funding opportunities support the college’s growth in key areas, “Working with industry really helps us provide pathways for students, but also helps provide solutions for industry as well.”

A majority of the programs are ready to start accepting more students this fall.