By Nick Kuhl on November 30, 2019.
Dave Mabell
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge College continues to be recognized among Canada’s top 50
research colleges.
This year it’s also done well in a number of individuals categories.
Among medium-sized colleges, it’s been placed eighth for the number
of research partners, 10th for “industry research intensity” and
11th for the number of completed research projects and for the number
of paid student researchers.
As well, the annual rankings place the college in 12th place for
industry research income. Lethbridge College’s overall ranking was
47th, up three spots from a year ago.
“It’s encouraging to be recognized as one of the Canada’s top
research colleges,” says Kenny Corscadden, the college’s associate
vice-president for research.
The rankings, issued each year by the national Research Infosource
organization, are based mainly on the amount of research grant money
coming to the college.
But the numbers are “just scratching the surface of our research
activities,” he says
“We are proud to be driven by industry-supported applied research
that creates real-life solutions for problems facing our industry
partners.”
Among the college’s research highlights over the past year,
officials say, the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and
Entrepreneurship celebrated the opening of its new office, including a
student innovation space known as The Pivot.
The centre also appointed two new research chairs, Chandra Singh for
agricultural engineering and technology and Mike McCready as the
President’s Applied Research Chair in virtual and augmented reality.
It also undertook several projects with industry partners including
Luco Farms and the Potato Growers of Alberta, and it received more
than $1 million in federal research grants.
“Over the past few years, we have created and celebrated an
environment of excellence in applied research,” says Samantha Lenci,
the college’s provost and vice-president (academic).
“We recognize the impact of that work and continue to push the
commitment of this college in regards to community partnerships,
innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The college’s new research activities come in addition to ongoing
work in the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence and the Agriculture
Entrepreneur in Training program, as well as by the Mueller Applied
Research Chair in Irrigation Science.
Research Infosource bases its rankings on data obtained through
surveys of publicly-funded colleges and from 2017-18 financial
statements.
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