Knowledge Exchange

The Knowledge Exchange component of the Congress is designed to provide opportunities to share leading edge ideas and approaches. Each presentation is 7 minutes in length and there will be 6 presentations per thematic strand.

The themes include:

• Applied Research, Product and Process Improvement

  • Applied Research, Productivity and Skills for the Innovation Economy
    Robert Luke, Assistant Vice-President, Research & Innovation - George Brown College
    
    Polytechnic and college applied research helps industry partners bridge capacity gaps and get products to market while training talent for the innovation economy, future-proofing the work force by instilling innovation literacy in our graduates. This presentation will review polytechnic applied research metrics and measures of success in fostering business innovation.

  • Global Experience Promotes Local Excellence: International Applied Research Experiences for Students
    Brent Wootton, Director, Applied Research - Fleming College
    
    International applied research projects provide enriching experiences for students many of whom describe them as life-changing. Dr. Brent Wootton, Director, Applied Research at Fleming College will showcase examples of applied research projects that highlight local excellence through global experiences.

  • Cold Climate Innovation: Super Insulated Greenhouse Project
    Stephen Mooney, Director, Cold Climate Innovation Centre - Yukon College

    The Yukon Research Centre and students from the Yukon College School of Access have designed and built an experimental greenhouse which incorporates an array of innovations and adapted technologies to overcome the challenges faced by northern growers. This project was designed as a platform for the students to learn construction and greenhousing techniques as part of a skills for employment program. This project was also established to showcase current technology and innovative solutions to northern greenhousing.

• Education and Technology

  • Meaningful E-Learning (MEL): An International, Collaborative, Multi-Institution Research Project
    Caroline Hoffart, Faculty and HSPnet Clinical Placement Coordinator, Psychiatric Nursing Program - SIAST
    Sue Myers, Program Head, Psychiatric Nursing Program - SIAST
    
    The Meaningful E-Learning (MEL) project is international, multi-institutional, and collaborative research project that has been implemented between four post-secondary/tertiary institutions in Australia and Canada. The purpose of this participatory action research is to help students and faculty identify their e-learning needs and implement e-learning strategies into their learning and teaching activities in effective, meaningful and sustainable ways. Recommendations that emerge from the study have the potential to influence e-learning best practices.

  • Pedagogically Grounded Approaches to Technology Integration
    Zafar Syed, Dean, Organizational Learning & Academic Development, Centre for Organizational Learning & Teaching - Centennial College
    
    Seamless integration of technology is always the goal and invariably also the challenge. At Centennial, our approach has been to focus less on technology and more on enhancing learning environments. Our efforts in technology training, teacher education, and program development ask faculty to identify and embed approaches and tools that are pedagogically grounded - not technology driven. In this presentation, this process will be highlighted through examples from our practice.

• Ensuring Program Quality and Currency

  • Bangladesh's New Quality Assurance Framework for TVET
    Prof. Abul Kashem, Chairman - Bangladesh Technical Education Board & Acting Director General - Directorate of Technical Education
    Arthur E. Shears, Chief Technical Advisor - TVET Reform Project
    
    The Government of Bangladesh is introducing a Quality Assurance framework for Technical and Vocational Education and Training as part of the new National Skills Development Policy. This presentation will describe the key elements of the system, the supporting documentation and procedures, and feedback from its pilot introduction with several institutions.

  • The Building Consultancy - A Practical Learning Approach
    Kath Curry, Associate Dean, Quality and Capability, Faculty of Technical and Trades Innovation - Victoria University
    
    This case study explores the outcomes, challenges and successes of a multi-disciplinary work integrated learning (WIL) project involving the design and construction of a fully functioning Building Consultancy. The immediate outcomes are the engagement of disengaged students, improved communication, teamwork and problem solving explicit in the learning. This program is a stunning example of cooperation and collaboration between teachers to provide quality programs for students ensuring industry currency.

  • Combining a Business Education with a Career Passion: The Diploma in Business Management at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College
    Lauranne Sanderson, Associate Professor, Coordinator of the Diploma in Business Management and Department Head, Business and Social Sciences - Nova Scotia Agricultural College
    
    Obtaining a business education focused on a particular career passion is the premise behind this two year diploma specializing in Dairy Farming, Farming, Pet Speciality, Equine Speciality, or Greenhouse and Nursery Management. Students take conventional diploma credit courses in both business and their speciality, modular workplace readiness certificates and either an internship or mandatory skill training on the campus farm, stable or pet care facility. Tours, guest speakers, projects and industry instructors ensure a connection with the industry.

  • Policy, Innovation and Standard Setting
    Rae Gropper, Vice-President, Academic - Michener Institute for Applied Sciences (Ret) and Lead Consultant on projects
    Laura Zychla, Coordinator, Research in Cancer Informatics, Primary Researcher on Canadian Educational Standards Project
    
    Allied health professional, both regulated and unregulated, are critical components of the health care system and represent nearly 50% of the health care workforce. Given the involvement of allied health professionals in all stages of health care delivery - from diagnosis to treatment and recovery, programs to produce these skilled workers are integral to college programs in the health sciences. Through the auspices of Health Canada, ACCC has completed significant research on the following topics:

    • Sustaining the Allied Health Professions (Policy Blueprints & Innovation Guide)

    • Canadian Educational Standards for Person Care Providers (Environmental Scan & National Standards Document)

• Industry and Community Partnerships

  • NSCC/Emera Caribbean Utility Services Operator Program: Transcending Borders to Meet Global Needs
    Sandra MacDonald-Clahane, Manager, Business Development, Caribbean Region - Nova Scotia Community College
    
    At NSCC, our mission is to build Nova Scotia's economy and quality of life through education and innovation. We do this by drawing from the expertise of faculty and staff across more than 110 NSCC programs, and from within industry itself. The training program developed with our industry partner, Emera, is a perfect example of that innovation and collaboration. By evolving from our partnership work here, at home, and customizing that work to meet the unique, yet equally as important needs across the globe, we transcend borders and share our mission.

  • Portage College Responds to Local Stakeholder Training Needs
    Felicity Bergman, Manager, CiTi Public Relations & Marketing - Portage College
    Lindsay Johnson, Project Manager, CiTi Water Resources - Portage College
    
    Portage College's Community & Industry Training Initiatives department (CiTi) plays an integral role in quickly and effectively responding to the needs expressed by industry and local communities for high-quality thematically and geographically targeted training opportunities in rural Northeastern Alberta. Recent successful partnerships include: the "Try-On-A Trade" program with local Aboriginal communities and the development of cutting-edge Water Resources programming in collaboration with both Devon Canada and the County of Lac La Biche. This programming approach effectively links industry and communities together and results in a highly employable workforce for the sustainability of both players.

  • The Role of Community Service and the Effectiveness of Service Learning in Nursing Education
    Sherry Arvidson, RN BN MN Doctoral Learner, Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) - Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Wascana Campus
    Victoria Muzychuk, Practice Education Administrator, Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) - Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), Wascana Campus
    
    Multiple partnerships have been established with the Regina-based communities to meet the requirements of practice education course in the newly developed Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN) Program. The presentation will showcase best examples of community partnerships, benefits of the community-based service learning and lessons learned in the first-ever offering of this course to the nursing students in their journey to become compassionate providers of holistic care.

• International Collaboration

  • Cultivating Skills for Employment and Growth in Cub
    George Andrews, Vice-President, External Relations - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT)
    
    For the past 14 years, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has helped to strengthen Cuba's capacity to develop its human resources to competitive international standards. NAIT has successfully partnered with the Ministry of Basic Industries (MINBAS) and CIDA on three sponsored projects since 2000 with a focus on building a skilled workforce and helping shape Cuba's technical and vocational training. Learn how NAIT has successfully provided capacity building initiatives in a range of areas such as trades training, management and leadership development, information and communications technology and industrial certification systems in a manner that is sustainable and sensitive to gender requirements.

  • Fostering Student-Centered Learning in India
    Bruce Tracy, Chair, Physics Department - Cégep John Abbott College
    
    Polytechnic colleges in Tamil Nadu, India are moving towards student-centered learning and have looked to Quebec’s colleges to help facilitate the change. John Abbott and Vanier Colleges undertook a project to introduce this pedagogical approach. Workshops held in March 2011 and January 2012 used a “train the trainer” orientation with a particular focus on Problem-Based Learning and Peer Instruction.

  • Relationships, Saving Face and Fate: Lessons in a Sino-Canadian University Partnership
    Claude Caldwell, Professor, Plant & Animal Sciences - Nova Scotia Agricultural College
    
    A multi-institution, CIDA-sponsored development project, which included the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC), a Canadian small college, and the much larger Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) in China has produced a rare combination of student success stories, cultural exchange and academic innovation. The presentation will outline the evolution of the scientific, educational and development partnership from simple technology transfer to complex inter-institutional relationships. The role of culture and tradition and the lessons a Canadian must learn are highlighted.
  • Collaborative approach at the crossroads of a decentralization process
    Marcelle Dugas, Agente, Développement international - Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick
    
    As part of an ongoing initiative in Mali, a collaborative approach is integrated into a decentralization process by focusing on capacity building on the individual, collective and institutional level. How to harmonize this approach, the guiding entity and the partnered institution share lessons learned.
    
    

• Serving Indigenous Peoples and Communities

  • Pathways to Learning and Sustaining the Journey
    Kory Wilson, Director, Aboriginal Education and Services - Vancouver Community College
    
    The success rate for Aboriginal learners has increased through Vancouver Community College's commitment to Aboriginal learners and our participation in the Coastal Corridor Consortium (C3). We are promoting "Pathways to Learning and Sustaining the Journey" for Aboriginal learners.

  • Working with Yukon's First Nations to Build Community Capacities
    Dave McHardy, Dean, Extension Services - Yukon College
    
    This presentation will outline the programs Yukon College has developed to catalyze community capacity building and will describe the mechanisms used to ensure that these programs meet the needs of Yukon's 14 First Nations (11 of whom are self-governing). Future explorations including a partnered undergraduate degree program in Northern Governance and Development will also be highlighted.

  • NSCC/Bell Aliant Fibre Optic Training Program - Community Collaboration Channels Training to Opportunities
    Michael Kelloway, Manager, Business Development - Nova Scotia Community College
    
    At NSCC, we value innovative ideas and actions that engage students, employers, and communities in learning and development. The Bell Aliant Fibre Optic Training program being delivered to a group of 12 Aboriginal learners at our Campus in Sydney is built through a community collaboration which is raising the opportunities and profile of a vital, yet underrepresented group within the field. The program is succeeding thanks to the unique contribution of cultural appreciation, flexibility, adaptability, communication, along with a shared vision between the three partners.

  • Community Based Assessment: Access and Relevance for Aboriginal Communities and Higher Education
    Kylie Cavaliere, Director, Students and Registrar - Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
    John Chenoweth, Dean, Community Education & Applied Programs - Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
    
    The Nicola Valley Institute of Technology, BC’s Aboriginal Public Post-Secondary Institute, initiated a “Community Based Assessment Project” for Aboriginal communities throughout British Columbia. The premise of the project is to bring educational assessment and planning services to prospective Aboriginal learners all across the Province. To-date, over 15 communities have participated and received reports that highlight the educational attainment levels and opportunities for their communities. Likewise, each individual participant has benefitted by working with an educational planner to understand the assessment results and develop an educational plan based on their needs and desires for higher learning.

  • Working with the Yryapu Guarani Community in Iguazu, Argentina
    Jos Nolle, Director, International Education and Development - Niagara College
    
    Niagara College Canada has worked with the Yryapu community in Iguazu during the past 10 years. The very slow process of gaining trust and starting a meaningful dialogue will be described. The monumental barriers to access to education and vocational training for this community will be explained. And the early results and signs of outcomes will be shown.

• Student and Faculty Mobility

  • Combining excellent curriculum, student engagement, and alumni involvement to forge lasting industry partnerships
    Leroy Lowe, Faculty, Business Program - Nova Scotia Community College
    
    Using FITT's international business curriculum, combined with independent student research, regular industry visits, face-to-face meetings with corporate managers, and an alumni outreach program, the Nova Scotia Community College has forged a significant number of lasting industry partnerships that have resulted in a dramatic increase in paid internships and graduates being hired. This presentation will highlight the key elements of this curriculum and lay out the program that has led to these very successful student and graduate outcomes.

  • Empowering Students through Study Abroad Projects
    Judy Macdonald, Coordinator, Learning Enrichment and Support Services - Cégep Vanier College
    
    Study abroad projects can be transformative and empowering for participants. All aspects of these need to be carefully planned including pre-departure workshops, on the ground experiences, and post-trip follow-up to ensure maximum effectiveness.

  • Exchange Programs in Southern Mexico
    Gabriela Borge Janetti, Coordinadora de Idiomas - Universidad Tecnológica Riviera Maya
    
    To present a mobility proposal for students (Internships and Language Studies) and faculty members (Exchange and Collaborative Research) between the institutions attending the World Congress of College and Polytechnics and the Universidad Tecnológica Riviera Maya, Mexico.

  • The Malawi Nursing Exchange
    Melodie Hicks, Nursing Professor - Cégep Vanier College
    
    A partnership between Vanier College in Montreal and Kamuzu College of Nursing in Malawi has been built on mutual respect and a promise of reciprocity. Nursing students are provided with an opportunity to learn how their knowledge and skills have global application and how health outcomes are influenced by cultural beliefs and values. Ethnocentric ideas are challenged as students learn to adapt their nursing care.

  • Pathways for Students: Challenges and Opportunities
    Paul Dangerfield, Vice-President, Education, Research and International - British Columbia Institute of Technology(BCIT)
    
    The demographic profile of the college campus has evolved greatly in recent years and while credit transfer protocols are in place in various parts of the country, they have not been particularly effective in addressing a number of barriers for student and faculty mobility in Canada. Paul Dangerfield, Vice-President of Education, Research and International at the British Columbia Institute of Technology will share some thoughts on how colleges could consider a model of more general mobility and collaboration, rather than the traditional focus on credit transfer. By taking a leadership role and working collaboratively, colleges can create exceptional opportunities to enable student and faculty mobility and to enhance the collective delivery of our programs and research.