Toronto, Ontario – June 7, 2011 – Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning supports the 2011 Federal Government Budget. Specifically, Humber is pleased to see the direct recognition and understanding of the role colleges play in advancing Canadian innovation through applied research and commercialization activities that contributes to the development and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Budget 2011 contains several strategic announcements that will advance college and polytechnic research for the benefit of Canadian companies. Most notably the budget allocates $3 million in 2011-12 and $5 million a year on a permanent basis starting in 2012-13 to support 30 new Industrial Research Chairs at colleges and polytechnics. The budget also provides $80 million in new funding over three years to help SMEs accelerate their adoption of key information and communications technologies through collaborative projects with polytechnics and colleges.
"The government’s new investments in applied research, innovation and commercialization recognize the benefit Canadian colleges and polytechnics can have in furthering economic development,” said John Davies, president, Humber. “Research projects that help our industry partners bring their technology to market provide our students with the applied research experience that is vital for creating a highly skilled Canadian workforce. In turn, SMEs benefit from collaboration on business solutions by gaining access to expertise and resources that allow them to do research they might otherwise not be able to afford.”
Other key components of Budget 2011 include:
About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Established in 1967, Humber is one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions. Committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning, Humber serves more than 25,000 full-time students and 56,000 continuing education registrants. With an internationally recognized reputation for quality learning, Humber offers a wide-range of career-focused opportunities for students to personalize their educational path. Our 150 full-time programs include four-year bachelor’s degrees, two and three-year diplomas, one and two-year certificates, and apprenticeship training. As a founding member of Polytechnics Canada, Humber offers students the opportunity to participate in applied research projects that find solutions for issues confronting small and medium-sized enterprises. Humber is one of 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges as identified by the League for Innovation, and the League’s only Canadian board member. Humber finished first in its class in the highly regarded Community College Survey of Student Engagement in 2009 in each of four categories, including Active and Collaborative Learning, Student Effort, Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction. More than 85 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies. Visit humber.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Andrew Leopold
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
416.675.6622 ext. 4296
andrew.leopold@humber.ca
