COLLEGES CONTRIBUTE MILLIONS TO CAPITAL REGION ECONOMY
NAIT News Release
Edmonton, February 3, 2003 – Grant MacEwan College, NAIT and NorQuest contribute over $815 million annually to the Capital Region economy, according to a province-wide study released today. Over 27,500 jobs in the region are directly or indirectly dependent on the three institutes.
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The study shows that students of the three institutes enjoyed a 15 per cent rate of return on their educational investment. Graduates with a two-year diploma earn an average of approximately $40,000 annually, more than 30 per cent more than someone without a high school diploma.
Other highlights:
“¢ Province-wide, graduates save the province approximately $57 million per year in social expenditures including lower health costs, lower unemployment and lower crime costs
“¢ The annual provincial rate of return on investment for taxpayers is 16 per cent
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In total, the study found that colleges and technical institutes generate over $2 billion in annual economic activity across Alberta, or roughly four per cent of the provincial economy.
Read More:
http://www.nait.ab.ca/news/february2003/report.htm
SAIT DISCONTINUES MAILING GRADES IN FAVOUR OF ONLINE ACCESS
Notice to Students on the SAIT website
As of January 1, 2003, students of the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology distance education program have full online access to their grades.
The new system promises not only to be convenient, but should also save significant mailings costs. It may also be more secure, since mail often falls into the hands of people other than the intended recipient.
http://centreforlearning.sait.ca/networked_learning/nl_grades.htm
ON-LINE LEARNING PROVES SUCCESSFUL
Distance learning is taking off in a big way. While Athabasca University is the premier provider of post secondary degree programs in Canada, other institutions are introducing on-line courses and experimenting with new forms of distance learning technology.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology [SAIT] is one such institution, and according to a recent article in SAIT’s alumni magazine, the results so far have been very positive.
SAIT credits the programs success to exceptional support services, which back up their motto: “You’re not alone when you learn at home.”
The student featured in the article describes her distance learning experience as “like being part of a family.”
SAIT’s “student support services [include] instructors, tutors, technical support, and learning resource people. ”
The article also notes that many SAIT students who obtained traditional degrees are using the on-line learning options to take additional training or upgrading.
Read the article here:
http://centreforlearning.sait.ca/networked_learning/pdf/alumlinkspring02.pdf
GARGANTUAN ENGINEERING CLASS PROJECT
University of Calgary News Release
: a group of University of Calgary Civil Engineering students : are ending their undergraduate academic careers on a high note. They’ve recently completed a design proposal for a full-scale housing development in Lisbon, Portugal, which could be the largest class project of its kind anywhere in the world.
At 300 hectares, Lisbon’s urban renewal project is currently the largest in Europe and easily dwarfs class assignments undertaken by previous final-year engineering students, such as the Highway 22 Upgrade or the 96th Avenue Airport Road Link in Calgary.
Read more:
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/april03/engg-lisbon.html
