As 2023 draws to a close, battlefordsNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.
North West College had a successful year of growth and new developments.
This year the college announced it experienced more than a 35 per cent increase in its enrolment.
“At North West College we’ve had a really exciting year,” said Eli Ahlquist, President and CEO. “We’ve welcomed a great increase in student numbers to the college. We’ve seen our enrolment increase since COVID, which has been a really great sign to see our classrooms full and all the interactions in the hallways with the students back and forth.”
The college has also seen some new additions to its list of programs available for students. People can now pursue a Bachelor of Social Work or a Bachelor of Nursing, as well as several new trade programs that have been added, such as plumbing, electrician, and carpentry.
A number of new programs will start in January 2024. New programs in Business, Early Childhood Education and Continuing Care Assistant will begin at the main campus as well.
“We’re excited to have those students come, and we’re definitely excited to have our cohort of international students joining us as well,” Ahlquist said.
The college has also expanded its locations.
“There will be a grand opening coming for a new space we’re launching,” Ahlquist said. “We have some new shop space as well. We’re really excited about the renovations and work we’ve done to provide students with the greatest learning environment possible.”
The college has secured some new space at the Frontier Mall in North Battleford that will open in January.
“We’re really excited to show off that new space, with a modern lecture theatre, great classroom space and a number of offices,” Ahlquist noted. “It will be a really nice addition to our current program locations. We’ve also opened a new shop space in town as well.”
North West College is also making plans for a new campus in the Battlefords area in the future.
“We’re certainly hoping we will have some success on that,” Ahlquist said. “We’re continuing to work with the province in advocating for the region. There’s nothing to report on that front yet. But we’re busy working on it.”
The college celebrated the launch of the new Cenovus Energy Simulation Learning Centre health training lab at its campus in North Battleford a year ago that has been a significant investment for the college and its students.
“It’s been a great opportunity for us to enhance that student-learning experience and to also expand our programming,” Ahlquist said. “We’ve seen growth in our programs like Psychiatric Nursing as well as Continuing Care Assistant as part of the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan .”
He noted another important development was adding the Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing program from the University of Saskatchewan to the offering at North West College in the Battlefords also.
Ahlquist and the Dean of the College of Nursing at the University of Saskatchewan, Solina Richter, took part in a signing ceremony to make the partnership between the two parties official in November 2023. Students starting in September 2024 will make up the first class to begin the program at North West College’s Battlefords campus.
“We’re really excited to be a bit of a healthcare hub in the North West region of the province,” Ahlquist said. “Certainly, with the shortage of health professionals and the need for care in the province, this has been definitely a priority for us and a priority for the province to support the people of Saskatchewan.”
—
Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com
On X: @battlefordsnow
