News Archives: Targeted Enrolment Expansion Funding Announced at Northwestern Polytechnic
Monday, April 24th, 2023
Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) will be adding new health care seats and expanding its Power Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Technology, and Engineering Technology programs to meet the skilled labour needs of Northwestern Alberta.
The new programming and $11.3 million capital announcement are part of a suite of enrolment expansion initiatives made by MLA Tracy Allard at the institution’s Trades and Technology building today.
"Northwestern Polytechnic is committed to providing education that aligns with student and employer demand," said Dr. Vanessa Sheane, NWP Provost and VP Academic. "This funding over the course of the next two years will enable us to expand our programming, enhance our training facilities, and better serve our communities.”
Recent projections indicate that upwards of 700 additional skilled employees will be needed in the region to meet the demands of growing industrial projects in the Greenview Industrial Gateway and existing Energy and Forestry projects in Northwestern Alberta. NWP will be key in training the next generation of power engineering and instrumentation professionals.
“Until now, NWP was only able to offer period 1 and 2 Instrumentation & Controls Technician apprenticeships due to space and equipment limitations,” explains NWP Electrical Instructor, Nathan Parlee. “This expanded training capacity is great news for students who will be able to continue and eventually complete their studies locally with the benefits of a first-class training environment, featuring the latest technological advancements.”
NWP can now move forward with its plans to develop space at the Grande Prairie campus for technical training and hands-on learning. Once complete, the new laboratory will empower students with the skills and knowledge to diagnosis, configure, calibrate and maintain various pneumatic, analog, and digital measurement and indicating instrumentation.
"Our focus is on optimizing workforce readiness and success by instilling specialized skills, knowledge and abilities that will propel the region forward," said Andrew Dunlop, Dean of Applied Science and Technology. "We are grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to collaborating with industry champions to identify and enhance additional joint ventures in the future."
The institution is continuing to explore innovative learning opportunities and partnerships. Just over a year ago, NWP announced a joint venture with Spartan Controls that gives students a chance to hone their skills in the heart of an industry-based instrumentation lab. More recently, the polytechnic cut the ribbon on a specialized Health Education and Training wing in the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
