Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Finance Minister Bill Morneau makes Post-Budget Visit to Algonquin College

Posted on Thursday, March 23rd, 2017

OTTAWA — The Honourable Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, made his first post-budget stop at Algonquin College on Thursday, fielding questions from students and getting a first-hand look at innovation in progress.

“I know it’s so important for Colleges and private-sector organizations and research institutes and universities to all work together in creating great opportunities for our country,” said Minister Morneau, who then addressed the students directly. “All of you are at an exciting time in your life. I wish you all the best in your studies and I want you to know that we are going to work to make sure that the opportunities are going to be there for you when you graduate.” Continue reading

Algonquin College and Siemens Canada partner on Mechatronics and Dual-Education programs

Posted on Monday, March 20th, 2017

  • Unique programs serve to address Canada’s current skills gap and future needs
  • Algonquin College’s Ottawa campus will host both programs

The next chapter in the multi-faceted partnership between Algonquin College and Siemens Canada was made official today as the organizations announced a new collaboration aimed at addressing the technical skills gap in Canada and accelerating implementation of Industrie 4.0 advanced manufacturing concepts. Algonquin students will soon have access to two new advanced skills programs to further prepare them for the workplace of the future; the Siemens Mechatronics Systems certification and the Dual-Education enhanced co-op program, both to be offered through the Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy (SCETA).

Continue reading

Algonquin College and The Ottawa Hospital form new partnership

Posted on Thursday, February 16th, 2017

OTTAWA — Algonquin College and The Ottawa Hospital are embarking on a unique partnership in health research, innovation and training. The College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hospital’s research institute to “encourage and facilitate the development of mutually beneficial linkages” in areas such as digital health, clinical trials and biotherapeutics manufacturing. Continue reading

Indigenous student success program launched by Algonquin College and Cambrian College

Posted on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016

MOU SigningAn innovative program that aims to enhance Indigenous student recruitment, retention, and success is underway at Algonquin College and Cambrian College. Both institutions will be working with Indigenous communities on a new Indigenous Student Performance Success Program focused on producing research that will identify factors that help or hinder Indigenous students as they pursue postsecondary studies at each institution. On Monday, November 21, at the Higher Education Summit in Toronto, Algonquin President Cheryl Jensen and Cambrian President Bill Best signed an agreement that will enable the two Colleges to collaborate on research that will enhance the postsecondary experience for Indigenous students. Continue reading

Algonquin College and The Ottawa Hospital form new partnership

Posted on Monday, November 21st, 2016

OTTAWA — Algonquin College and The Ottawa Hospital are embarking on a unique partnership in health research, innovation and training. The College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hospital’s research institute to “encourage and facilitate the development of mutually beneficial linkages” in areas such as digital health, clinical trials and biotherapeutics manufacturing. Continue reading

Algonquin in “Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges”

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2016

Algonquin College

The 2016 edition of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges was released on Thursday — and Algonquin College continues its upward performance.

The College is now in 20th spot in the rankings, up from 24th in 2015.

“This is a great motivation boost for our Algonquin College community as we continue to deliver in our strategic priorities around innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Cristina Holguin-Pando, Director, Partnerships, Applied Research & Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. “It’s a journey that really gained momentum through our current strategic plan, and will be consolidated in the new strategy documents that will see Algonquin College at the forefront, delivering an education model based on innovation and entrepreneurship leadership in a few years ahead.”

Other stats from the report include:

• Algonquin’s research income rose 51.1 per cent from the previous period, taking the fourth spot in research income percentage growth.

• Algonquin is now third in the number of paid students conducting research among Canada’s large colleges.

• Algonquin takes the seventh spot in the country in terms of faculty members leading research projects.

• In total grants received from the federal government’s Tri-Council (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) in the 2011-2015 period, Algonquin ranks fourth across Canada with more than $6 million research income.

“It is truly rewarding to evidence the college’s success by consistently increasing the number of faculty, and of course students, engaged in applied research projects,” said Holguin-Pando. “While it is always exciting attaining growing levels of funding, the reality is that funding availability is in decline, making it increasingly challenging.”

The report, compiled by Research Infosource Inc., noted that combined research income of 15 Ontario colleges fell by 4.6 per cent.

“Although many individual colleges performed well the total Ontario college income drop of 4.6 per cent somewhat underperformed the national trend of 0.5 per-cent growth,” said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource, in a press release. “Of concern is that industry funding of college research in the province declined by -21.8 per cent, falling to $2.9 million. The positive news is that the number of formal research partnerships grew by 37.6 per cent and the number of completed research projects expanded by 17.5 per cent.”

And Holguin-Pando said there are plenty of signs that Algonquin is on the right track.

“The best indicator, the real success story here, is in our ability to provide our faculty and our students with opportunities to meaningfully engage with industry partners in solving real-life problems that are at the cutting edge of technology,” she said. “This is what we do best.”

More information, and the full rankings, are available here.

New learning centre gets $24.8 million from federal, provincial governments

Posted on Wednesday, October 12th, 2016

Groundbreaking

It’s full-steam ahead!

After months of anticipation, the college has been given crucial federal and provincial funding that will allow us to transform the library into a state-of-the-art learning and entrepreneurship centre.

Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld was on the campus Wednesday to announce the federal government’s $21.9-million contribution, and Bob Chiarelli, the area’s MPP and the Minister of Infrastructure announced a $2.9-million contribution from the province.

Vandenbeld lauded the project, saying the new centre will help produce “students that will turn ideas into solutions, solutions into jobs, and start-up companies into global investments.”

In her remarks, Cheryl thanked both ministers for their support as well as MP Catherine McKenna, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, who was also on hand for the announcement.

She noted that Wednesday’s groundbreaking for the $45-million transformation, which took place in the C building courtyard, was an exciting moment, particularly because of what it represents.

“We’re excited not just about today’s announcement and groundbreaking, but also about being part of a wider wave of growth and expansion across this city, because that’s what today is really about, city-building.”

The college is one of a number of post-secondary institutions to receive funding from the Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development’s Strategic Investment Fund and the Province of Ontario’s Facilities Renewal Fund this year.

Earlier this year, the Board of Governors approved in principle to fund up to $20 million from the college’s capital budget and reserve funds.

The new centre, which will be located in a portion of C building, will encompass the Algonquin College Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and the Algonquin College Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship.

Cheryl called it “a place like no other,” saying it will be a place that puts entrepreneurship at the heart of everything the college does, a place that pushes the envelope with innovation and ingenuity, and a place that recognizes the unique culture and talent of its indigenous students.

“Since I know the caliber of our learners and the excellence of our faculty,” she said, “and since this announcement guarantees we can create the best possible environment for them to unleash their talents, I will say this: ‘I can’t wait.’”

And she won’t have to. The project is now officially underway.

Information about the project will regularly be posted to myAC so that employees can be kept in the loop. In addition, for all disruption and construction-related news, go to the dedicated website algonquincollege.com/grow.

To see videos of the funding announcement and the groundbreaking ceremony, go to https://www.algonquincollege.com/live/.

Photo: From left: Cheryl, Ottawa Centre MP and Minister of Environment and Climater Change Catherine McKenna, Algonquin Students’ Association President Egor Evseev, Ottawa West-Nepean MPP and Minister of Infrastructure Bob Chiarelli, and Ottawa West-Nepean MP Anita Vandenbeld take place in the groundbreaking in C building courtyard.

English expert addresses Future of Health and Wellness Breakfast

Posted on Thursday, October 6th, 2016

Dr. Graham Willis

Don’t try to forecast future health-care demands and work-force needs using numbers, a British expert in health-care modelling told a gathering at Algonquin College on Thursday.

Instead, test the impact of “different futures” by getting expert advice and building scenarios.

Hear all of Willis’ remarks here.

About 100 senior leaders from the local health and wellness industry gathered at Restaurant International on Thursday morning to hear Dr. Graham Willis explain what he and his research team are doing differently. Dr. Willis is the Head of Research and Development, Workforce Analysis, Strategy and External Relations, for the Department of Health, England.

“Don’t try and forecast, try and think of a range of futures and use them to try and test your ideas,” he said. “We can use this (method)to explore the system without getting caught in the numbers.”

Dr. Willis’ framework also focuses on skills rather than job titles or functions to further improve the ability to predict future demand. He said this method also moves the analysis away from individual numbers and helps researchers think about the workforce as a whole, working together.

The gathering was the seventh event in the Future of Health and Wellness Speaker Series, hosted jointly by Algonquin College and the Champlain Local Health Integration Network.

You can hear all of Willis’ remarks here.

Photo: Algonquin College Vice-President Academic Claude Brulé, Champlain LHIN Chief Executive Officer Chantale LeClerc, Dr. Graham Willis, Cheryl, and Barbara Foulds, Chair, Healthy Living Education Steering Committee, left to right.

Sir Terence Matthews to Co-Chair New Advisory Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship with Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen

Posted on Thursday, October 6th, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 6, 2016

Sir Terence Matthews to Co-Chair New Advisory Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
with Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen

Oct. 6, 2016 (Ottawa) — Algonquin College President Cheryl Jensen is pleased to announce a new President’s Advisory Panel on Innovation and Entrepreneurship to help guide the College in the coming years.

Canadian business magnate and high-tech entrepreneur Sir Terence Matthews will be co-chairing the panel with President Jensen, who was recently named to the board of directors of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship — making her the only Canadian representative on the board of the American organization.

“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Terry and our other panel members to Algonquin College — each one of them brings a different perspective and different skills to the table,” said Jensen. “Our students already have an entrepreneurial spirit, but this panel is going to give them the edge when it comes to turning their dreams into reality.”

The panel had its first meeting on Oct. 5 and enjoyed a wide-ranging discussion on topics such as 5G networks and building smarter cities.

Other members of the panel who participated in Tuesday’s meeting included:

  • Eli Fathi, Chief Executive Officer, Mind Bridge Analytics
  • Ian Faris, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
  • Michael Oster, President, Ottawa Community Loan Fund
  • Paul LaBarge, Founding Partner, LaBarge Weinstein
  • Peter Charbonneau, Lead Director Mitel
  • Brian O’Higgins, Executive Fellow, Mistral Venture Partners
  • Robert Hanlon, Chief Operating Officer, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

The panel will advise on innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at the College, overall strategic direction, fundraising strategies, potential partnerships and will also provide input on entrepreneurship programming and supports.

Under President Jensen, Algonquin College has increased its focus on entrepreneurship. In February it opened Ignite AC, an entrepreneurship centre for students that offers mentorship, guidance and resources.

More recently the College submitted a multimillion-dollar proposal to the federal government to help fund its state-of-the-art Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Learning Centre and Institute for Indigenous Entrepreneurship. An announcement regarding this proposal is expected very soon.

For more information:

Ruth Dunley, Communications Officer

Public Relations and Communications, Algonquin College
Office: 613-727-4723 ext. 6452

Mobile: 613-406-0970

dunleyr@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College:

www.algonquincollege.com:

The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in more than 185 programs. Based in the Ottawa Valley, Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario.