Belleville, Ontario, February 23, 2012 – Loyalist College is taking an important next step in the development of its research capacity.
The College recently announced that it is applying for Colleges Ontario Network for Industry Innovation (CONII) membership and also preparing for Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) certification. This will allow Loyalist to pursue new grant opportunities and financial resources, to further the College’s applied research and innovation activities.
“Innovation plays a vital role in sustaining and building our leadership as a post-secondary institution in Eastern Ontario,” said Loyalist President Maureen Piercy. “With these affiliations, we will be able to expand our research activities to benefit students, programs, business and industry partners and our communities. This is important to the College in meeting the objectives of our Strategic Plan.”
Loyalist recently established a Research Services Office to coordinate applied research projects in which members of College staff are involved, and to provide research, data, and analysis on issues including accountability and performance measures, researching the most high-value programming for Loyalist and its communities. The focus is on optimizing the opportunities Loyalist provides and the resources the College can attract.
“In a time of constrained resources, evidence to support our decision-making is key,” President Piercy added. “The College also has performance agreements in numerous areas with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities so appropriate research and analysis to demonstrate our success and compliance, or needs for resources, is critically important. Having the right data at the right time can significantly affect funding, as well as our ability to take advantage of opportunities in the highly competitive and fast-changing environment in which we operate.”
With just one dedicated staff member, the Research Office will rely on all sectors of the College to continue to play an important role in maintaining College research inputs.
“The membership and certification for which we are preparing to apply will formalize the spirit of innovation that is already present throughout our College and serve as a springboard for our future,” said Vice-President Academic John McMahon. “As we enhance our students’ learning experiences by enabling them to participate in cutting-edge research, we will better prepare them for success in the workplace. The alliances will also create new opportunities for faculty and staff to get involved in applied research projects with community partners.”
A recent publication of the Ontario Colleges’ provincial association, Colleges Ontario, reinforces that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) such as many of the partners Loyalist works with directly, are responsible for more than half of Ontario’s employment and economic growth. Ontario colleges, including Loyalist, are helping business and industry solve immediate problems and meet business goals, through applied R&D and innovation.
Loyalist College prepares students for a rewarding career by combining highest academic standards with hands-on training from industry experts. Programs range from apprenticeships and certificates to diplomas and post-graduate studies. Loyalist offers more than 60 full-time programs and 77 university transfer agreements around the world. The best testament to the College’s value is from students, 97 per cent of whom say they would recommend Loyalist to a friend. Loyalist is committed to helping students find great jobs, as well as supporting and enhancing the economic and social development of all individuals in its communities.
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Media Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Media Relations Specialist, Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536