Niagara College’s excellence in applied research and innovation has been recognized on the world stage.
On September 25, the College received a silver award in the category of Applied Research and Innovation by the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP)’s Awards of Excellence.
Presented at its World Congress in Montego Bay, Jamaica, WFCP’s 2024 Awards of Excellence recognize WFCP member institutions and celebrate their contributions to excellence in the global technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector, skills development and the wider economic and social development.
The Applied Research and Innovation Award Category honours an institution or institutional association that has demonstrated excellence in addressing real-world challenges through applied research. The award has three levels of accomplishment: gold, silver, and bronze.
“Niagara College was presented with the Applied Research and Innovation Award of Excellence due to its commitment to industry-driven research and innovation,” said the WFCP Secretariat on behalf of WFCP. “Our judges found that the college’s Research & Innovation Division has made proven contributions to workforce and economic development, and that its global partnerships and capacity-building initiatives have empowered local communities and supported sustainable development.”
“This prestigious award reinforces our strong commitment to prioritizing Research and Innovation, by not only delivering impactful real-world solutions for businesses but also creating extraordinary experiential learning opportunities for our students,” said Niagara College’s Vice President, International, Sean Coote. “The recognition by the WFCP reflects our dedication to excellence and adds to our standing as Canada’s number one college for research funding, as highlighted in the national study ‘Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges,’ in which we have consistently ranked among the top 10 for nearly a decade.”
This award acknowledges the successful partnership between Niagara College’s Research and Innovation division and Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training to deliver customized training, along with strategic planning and management consulting services to global partners in the postsecondary education sector.
“The Research and Innovation division at Niagara College is honoured to receive this award, as it validates our place on a global stage as a leader in applied research. We are committed to keep pushing the boundaries of best practices for applied research for years to come,” said NC’s Vice-President, Research, Innovation & Strategic Enterprises, Marc Nantel, PhD. “We use our excellence and expertise in applied-research administration to train other higher-education institutions on how best to set up their research departments, and we plan to continue to expand our programs through NC’s Institute for Global Education and Training.”
In particular, this award celebrates capacity-building trainings delivered by Niagara College in Latin America, which reached over 112 students and 246 faculty and leadership at seven higher education institutions and supported the establishment of three Applied Research Centres. Transformative projects initiated by these Centres are improving the lives of over 800,000 individuals in the region.
The initiative was inspired by partnerships within the Pacific Alliance (PA) Program, an investment focusing on sustainable development and skills for employment in Latin America, managed by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and fundedthrough Global Affairs Canada.
Learn more about NC’s participation on the WFCP Congress.
Previous awards and recognitions
– Canada’s top research colleges – For the second time in less than five years, NC has hit the No. 1 spot for colleges in Canada in 2023 for research funding, according to a special report from Research Infosource Inc. Moving up one spot from 2022, NC is now the No. 1 research college across Canada. This is the ninth year in a row NC has been in the top 10.
Global engagement and citizenship – In 2022, NC was awarded a bronze in the category of Global Citizenship by WFCP, and a silver in Global Engagement Excellence by CICan at its 2022 Awards of Excellence ceremony. CICan acknowledges institutions from across Canada for their best practices and achievements.
In 2018, Research and Innovation won gold in this same category.
Bringing together the expertise of a highly skilled NC team with partner organizations worldwide, Niagara College’s Institute for Global Education & Training proudly provides educational solutions designed to inspire sustainable global change. For over 20 years, NC has been collaborating with global institutions, including developing and delivering customized education and training programs and capacity building projects to support learners around the world and global partners in achieving their goals.
NC’s award-winning Research & Innovation division provides real-world solutions for business, key industry sectors, and the community through applied research and knowledge transfer activities. Researchers conduct projects that provide innovative solutions, such as producing and testing prototypes, evaluating new technologies, and developing new or improved products or processes for small- and medium-sized businesses.
Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 100 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is ranked Canada’s No.1 research college. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.
Photo: NC’s Vice President, International, Sean Coote and Associate Director, Economic Development & Planning, Lyndon William Ashton after receiving the silver award in the category of Applied Research and Innovation from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP)’s Awards of Excellence.
