Annual Report 2022/23
Vision
To be a global leader in applied education
Mission
We prepare students for successful careers and lives
From classroom to career
This past year, SAIT shifted from responding to COVID-19 to navigating the changing realities of a post-pandemic world. Throughout the 2022/23 reporting period — April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023, we have remained committed to supporting the health and well-being of our community, while advancing the competitiveness of our region through innovative applied education and research.
We continued to work with our partners in government, industry and education — and as a dedicated learning community — to reduce barriers to programs and enhance student services and work-integrated learning experiences.
We prioritized building relationships that support flexible training options, diversify pathways into SAIT and improve access to critical skills training.
We also enhanced the development of our global campus through international student enrolment, educational experiences, and training and research partnerships.
What follows is a summary of highlights from SAIT’s 2022/23 Annual Report. The report is also available for review in its entirely.
In a world in transition, SAIT will continue to lead change while delivering on our mission to prepare students for successful careers and lives.
Dr. David Ross
President and CEOOur changing campus
- In September 1922, the big oak doors of Heritage Hall opened to students for the first time. In September 2022, SAIT celebrated the building's centennial year with a series of special events.
- 1922 marked not only the opening of Heritage Hall, but also the creation of the Students’ Association (today’s Saitsa), which was originally housed within the building.
- The Clayton Carroll Automotive Centre opened in July 2002. In the 20 years since, the building has provided students, staff and instructors with a one-of-a-kind facility supporting programming within SAIT's School of Transportation.
- After nearly 10 years of planning and construction, the Trades and Technology Complex (TTC) officially opened in September 2012. A decade later, its transformational impact on students and the wider community is only growing.
- In August 2022, SAIT launched a four-year redevelopment project to replace Campus Centre with a new building. Campus Centre officially closed for demolition in March 2023.
The end of the 2022/23 academic year marks the midpoint of SAIT’s 2020-25 Strategic Plan, New World. New Thinking.
While it’s been a challenging few years, SAIT has continued to support the success of our students, meeting those challenges with renewed resilience and a growth mindset.
In consultation with stakeholders from across the SAIT community, we’ve identified five key focus areas to guide the second half of our Strategic Plan through 2025:
- developing our talent strategy
- strategic positioning in leading edge technology research and teaching
- enrolment growth and student success
- developing our global strategy and partnerships
- institutional development, including business process improvements and industry engagement
Advancing SAIT’s Strategic Plan
Commitment to excellence
Our commitment to excellence outlined in SAIT’s 2020/25 Strategic Plan begins with supporting the well-being, health and safety of our students and employees.
Well-being, health and safety
SAIT is aligned with the province’s transition to an endemic approach to managing COVID-19. Over the past year, we continued to monitor and assess public health conditions, guiding SAIT’s return to campus. In addition to the annual Make Some Noise for Mental Health campaign hosted by Athletics and Recreation, the institution participated in broader community initiatives supporting and promoting good mental health, including Bell Let’s Talk Day. SAIT launched a Mental Health for the Trades self-directed online course. Almost 4,000 appointments and drop-in counselling sessions were scheduled with Student Development and Counselling. The institution also hired a Sexual Violence Program Coordinator and Educator.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
SAIT launched an institutional project to incorporate the use of preferred names, gender and pronouns across institutional software applications. Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) training opportunities for employees and students grew to include PERS 143: Queer Inclusion and Belonging at SAIT. A Neurodiversity Alliance Committee was created and SAIT participated in Neurodiversity Week. Supported by the EDI office, the Pride at SAIT, Black Excellence and Empowerment at SAIT, EMBRACE (equity for women), and Women in Trades and Technology inclusion committees and employee resource groups are now established on campus. SAIT’s commitment to advancing EDI is just one of the reasons the institution was named an Alberta Top Employer for the 13th time last year.
Indigenous engagement and Indigenous learner success
This past year, SAIT hired a Director of Indigenous Engagement. Jennifer Russell will work across the institution in support of Indigenous student and employee success. Working with Indigenous communities from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 territories, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta, SAIT’s Corporate Development, Applied Research and International division is developing a training strategy to guide collaboration between Indigenous communities and post-secondary institutions. The SAIT Truth and Reconciliation Committee was created to organize community, academic and cultural events at SAIT, and the institution commemorated the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 with a day of learning and reflection. Classes were cancelled and employees were encouraged to participate in professional development activities to increase their awareness and understanding of truth and reconciliation.
Business process improvements
- The Reg Erhardt Library launched a new Open Educational Resources training certificate for faculty.
- SAIT introduced a mobile ID option for new students and employees.
- Single sign-on was deployed to a number of SAIT software systems, allowing users to access multiple systems using a single SAIT credential.
Skills for the future
A commitment to ensuring students have the digital literacy, personal agility and entrepreneurial spirit to succeed and lead in the future world of work is an institutional priority within SAIT's 2020/25 Strategic Plan.
Advanced technology in teaching and learning
SAIT participated in the development of a content library for virtual simulation training in four areas of healthcare programming. Research into using mixed reality for new instructor training and a project investigating how virtual reality impacts the spatial ability and learning outcomes of Architectural Technologies students were recognized with Cisco Catalyst Chair awards. The awards program supports projects which aim to infuse leading-edge technology within schools, programs, spaces and applied research at SAIT.
Building essential workplace skills
SAIT’s Capability Framework is designed to shape new ways of thinking for a new world of work. The framework builds on a core of technical skills and competencies to encourage the development of a set of complementary human capabilities universally important for career success: creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, curiosity and connection. This past year, the Centre for Applied Education Innovation began incorporating the framework into the design of new programs.
The School of Hospitality and Tourism launched several new courses in human skills development. The courses focus on developing self-awareness, team dynamics and leadership mindset. Practicum students in the Bachelor of Business Administration program participated in an Insights Discovery analysis and received coaching to build self-awareness.
Evolving work-integrated learning
Career Advancement Services is facilitating SAIT’s implementation of a regional work-integrated learning portal led by Calgary Economic Development. School of Health and Public Safety students took part in interprofessional industry events throughout the year, including Trauma Day at the Foothills Medical Centre, and volunteered with the Alex Community Health Bus to provide dental services to underserved populations. Software Development students developed app-based solutions to help kickstart business in post-pandemic downtown Calgary. Business students worked with industry mentors to explore how technology can impact traditional financial service models and organized a series of fundraising events for several local charities.
Student capstone projects ranged from addressing reliable, affordable and sustainable power for remote Indigenous communities to using coffee grounds as an environmentally friendly solution to treating industrial wastewater and developing solutions for vegetation monitoring in mining reclamation areas using drones.
Learning for life
A commitment to delivering work-ready skills as a lifelong learning partner is an institutional priority within SAIT's 2020/25 Strategic Plan.
Strategic Enrolment Management
Enrolment growth, financial and operational sustainability, student experience and retention, and career-ready skills development are all central to SAIT’s Strategic Enrolment Management plan. Progress highlights from the past year are included below.
- The International Centre implemented a Virtual Admissions System to streamline the admissions process for international student applications. The 2022/23 academic year saw the largest international student intake numbers for a fall term ever at SAIT.
- The Office of the Registrar is leading a Domestic Admission Application Solution project to improve the admissions process for domestic applications.
- In support of student success and experience, the Lamb Learner Success Centre piloted a mandatory Back on Track program for first-year business students with a grade point average below 2.0.
- Career Advancement Services developed a self-directed career course for students, PREP 013: Career Readiness Preparation.
Responsive and relevant programming
Investments from the province created additional seats in several in-demand programs, including Avionics Technology and Film and Video Production, and boosted apprenticeship seats in SAIT’s Auto Body Technician and Automotive Service Technician programs, along with expanding access to a variety of trades programming ranging from cooking to heavy equipment.
SAIT added nine learning pathways with six transfer agreements from post-secondary partners, including Royal Roads University, Bow Valley College and International Gateway Kelowna. Four new transfer agreements with international institutions were also developed. National and international partnerships comprise more than 500 pathways with 70 institutions.
New programs for 2022/23
Post-Diploma Certificate
Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies
SAIT's Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies launched new bootcamp programming to create more accessible and collaborative pathways into careers in technology. Digital Transformation Bootcamps provide intensive, hands-on experience to develop a wide range of technology skills.
Life-changing experiences for youth
SAIT launched new dual-credit offerings for high school students, including a Hardware and Networking IT course bundle, and added a Foundations in Emergency Care course to dual-credit programming. Summer Camps returned to campus. SAIT Explorers — one of many SAIT Summer Camps offerings — was created in response to the influx of families in Canada seeking refuge from conflict abroad. Youth Initiatives expanded delivery of the Turning Points for at-risk high school youth program to almost 100 youth and partnered with Advantus360 to offer specialized programming for Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In November 2022, more than 150 female students in Grades 8 and 9 attended the Jill of All Trades event, which encourages youth to pursue careers in the trades.
Engaging alumni in lifelong learning
Launched in July 2021, the Level Up Alumni Awards program continues to support SAIT graduates in their lifelong learning journey. This year, Alumni and Development distributed $100,000 in funding to returning graduates enrolled in credit programs — a full-time certificate, diploma or degree program — and $150,000 to alumni returning to SAIT for continuing education programming. Outstanding and distinguished alumni were recognized institutionally and six SAIT graduates working in fields ranging from hospitality to business were among the Class of 2022 in Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40.
Global perspective
Our commitment to enhancing global perspectives both at and about SAIT is an institutional priority within SAIT's 2020/25 Strategic Plan.
Internationalization
SAIT is leading the newly established Alberta Bureau of International Education (ABIE). Supported by a $1.5 million investment from the Government of Alberta, ABIE will drive growth and diversity in Alberta’s post-secondary international student enrolment. With the resumption of international travel, study abroad travel initiatives relaunched this past year. With sponsorship from a Global Skills Opportunity grant from the Government of Canada, SAIT Study Abroad led a field school to Costa Rica for a group of Indigenous students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism. SAIT participated in a Cultural Chef Exchange, brining international chefs and sommeliers to campus and partnered with the Higher College of Technology in Dubai to deliver a second shared offering of a course in Organizational Behaviour. The International Centre secured funding to support the PERS 148: Introduction to Effective Intercultural Communication course for the next five years.
Support for international students
SAIT hosted an inaugural Permanent Residency Ceremony Celebration, celebrating international alumni who gained permanent residency status in the last five years. The International Centre hired an Intercultural Champion to spearhead an Intercultural Support Strategy. The centre also hired an International Workforce Development Officer to work with employers in Calgary and throughout Alberta to help remove barriers for international alumni seeking employment. A new classroom readiness program was successfully piloted with 270 new international students in three programs in the School of Business. A new International Student Emergency Support Program is designed to help students experiencing financial hardship beyond their control due to military conflict, natural disaster or global crisis.
Rankings and reputation
SAIT Culinary Arts graduate Korae Nottveit won Alberta’s first gold medal and Canada’s second in the cooking category at WorldSkills in October 2022. SAIT’s School of Business made CEOWORLD Magazine’s list of Best Business Schools in the World for the third year — holding strong as the second highest ranked business school in Canada and #51 in the world. The School of Hospitality and Tourism moved up three spots on CEOWORLD Magazine’s 2023 Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World. SAIT ranks #15 globally and is the only school in Canada on the list. In addition to the alumni among the credits, SAIT’s main campus featured several times in HBO’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Last of Us.
Industry driven
SAIT’s commitment to collaborate with industry as co-leaders in building the economy is an institutional priority within SAIT's 2020/25 Strategic Plan.
Applied research at SAIT
Applied research at SAIT is anchored in the intersection of three priorities: clean energy, the environment and building the sustainable, resilient communities of the future. In 2022/23, SAIT's Applied Research and Innovation Services was awarded 47 grants with a total research income value of $12.9 million. SAIT moved up one spot in the national ranking to claim fifth position on Research Infosource Inc.’s list of Top 50 Research Colleges for 2022.
2022/23 highlights: Applied research
- The Alternative Construction Technologies (ACT) Hub in the Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials provides a new space for novel material and manufacturing processes development and testing.
- Supported by funding under the federal government’s Toward Net-Zero Homes and Communities program, the Green Building Technology Access Centre is working collaboratively with Frog Lake First Nation to accelerate the community’s transition to a net-zero residential sector.
- The Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative awarded ARIS $1.48 million to develop Canada’s first remotely-piloted aviation training centre specifically focused on training, certification, research and development for heavy-lift and beyond-visual-line-of-sight remotely-piloted aircraft systems (RPAS).
- The Centre for Innovation and Research in Unmanned Systems is a partner in the Canadian Unmanned and Remote Sensing Innovation Network. The network is a collaboration between SAIT, Mohawk College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic.
- Avatar Innovations and the Center for Energy Research and Clean Unconventional Technology Solutions have received funding through PrairiesCan to enable startups to commercialize emerging clean technologies for Alberta’s energy sector.
Industry engagement initiatives
SAIT is working alongside post-secondary partners, Avatar Innovations, the Clean Resource Innovation Network and others as a member organization at the Energy Transition Centre in downtown Calgary. In fall 2022, Jay Westman challenged industry peers and community leaders to match funds already raised to establish the BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction supporting the next generation of skilled tradespeople in Alberta. RBC announced an $850,000 investment to fund the development of electric vehicle readiness training and youth skills programming in the School of Transportation. Career Advancement Services matched 80 industry mentors with student mentees from the School of Business and School of Construction through the Industry Mentorship Program.
Corporate Training Solutions
SAIT’s Corporate Training Solutions (CTS) works with more than 100 companies per year to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities to more than 1,000 employees annually. Their biweekly webinar series, Leading Beyond Any Title, features SAIT facilitators and industry experts in conversation with the director of CTS and focuses on leadership development skills. SAIT re-signed a four-year partnership with the emPOWER Women in Construction program with Manpower. Delivered onsite at SAIT, this 15-week program helps women gain the skillset and the tools needed to be successful in construction related disciplines, including woodwork, framing fundamentals, electrical and pipe trades.
From delivering corporate training solutions to advancing commercialization to enhancing work-integrated learning experiences, we’re working together with industry to shape the new world of work and the careers that follow.
