Lethbridge College continues to forge its reputation as one of Canada’s top research colleges, ranking 16th in the annual Research Infosource ranking of Canada’s top 50 research colleges.
The 16th place ranking is Lethbridge College’s highest ever appearance in the rankings and the first time the college has cracked the top 20. In addition, the college ranks fifth in research income growth, the third straight year that Lethbridge College has been recognized as one of the country’s 10 fastest-growing research colleges.
“Our ranking is a testament to the need for this vital support for our local industry and to the hard work of our entire research team,” says Dr. Kenny Corscadden, Vice President Research and Partnerships. “Our community has been supportive of our ambitious growth goals as we have expanded our work in a variety of areas. Applied research leads directly to innovative solutions for the businesses we work with, and we are proud of the support we provide to our industry partners.”
Lethbridge College’s Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CARIE) received more than $7 million in external research funding during this ranking period, a 103.4 per cent increase from the previous ranking. As well, Lethbridge College ranked first in the country in funding received from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), a non-profit corporation that invests in research infrastructure. The high level of CFI funding is indicative of a growing operation, as infrastructure is put in place to support future research projects.
“It is gratifying to be recognized as a top 50 research college in Canada and to see our team rising in the rankings each year alongside other prestigious research colleges and polytechnics,” says Megan Shapka, Director of Applied Research Operations. “As we continue to grow our applied research portfolio, adding more expertise and state-of-the-art facilities, we anticipate even more growth in the coming years and look forward to continuing to provide valuable services to industry.”
Among medium-sized colleges, Lethbridge ranked ninth in paid student researchers (47), 10th in research partnerships (52) and 13th in completed research projects (24).
Lethbridge College’s main areas of research focus include Advanced Post-Harvest Technology led by Dr. Chandra Singh; the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE) led by Dr. Nick Savidov; the Mueller Irrigation Group led by Dr. Willemijn Appels; Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) led by Mike McCready; and the newly created Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) led by Dr. Kirsten Fantazir.
CARIE is a catalyst for economic growth, sustainability and social development in the region, bringing together community organizations, researchers and students to collaborate on projects that use new or existing knowledge to solve real-world challenges with immediate practical applications. Project outcomes often lead to innovative products and services that benefit our economy and society. Anyone interested in learning more can check out lethbridgecollege.ca/research.