Red River College adds polytechnic to name as part of rebranding

Manitoba's largest college has adopted a new name to better reflect what it sees as its unique role in the province's education system.

Red River College has added the word polytechnicto its title, becoming Red River College Polytechnic, or RRC Polytech.

"That term, polytechnic, is used around the world to describe institutions like ours, that focus on strategic workforce development," president and CEO Fred Meier said at an event unveiling the new name on Tuesday.

"Unique in Manitoba, our educational model combines a wide variety of credentialing programs microcredentials, degree programs, work-integrated learning opportunitiesand industry-driven applied research."

The name change reflects the college's plan to modernize its apprenticeships and expand in areas closely associated with polytechnical education, such as applied research and hands-on learning leading directly into work, the college said.

More flexibility

Standard learning models built around two-year programs, with classes scheduled Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., don't work for many learners, Meier said.

"We've heard from our partners that we need to build more flexibility and agility into our entire learning model to meet the needs of our workforce, and meet the needs of our students," he said.

New programs will offer microcredentials and short-term training to meet immediate needs, Meier said.

The college announced the name change as part of the unveiling of its new five-year strategic plan for 2022-26.

The plan outlines three priority areas for the college: transforming learning models to meet emerging needs; committing to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people; and deepening partnerships with businesses and communities.

As part of its reconciliation strategy, Meier said Indigenous ways of teaching and learning would be incorporated into all of the college's programming.

"This means dedicating ourselves to reconciling the broken trust in our education system and supporting the key role Indigenous people must play in our province to reach economic reconciliation," he said.

There will also be more flexibility in terms of the times of day classes are offered, locationsand methods of delivery.

The college will also work to strengthen partnerships by having credentials recognized across institutions and by simplifying systems to allow businesses to work with the college to conduct applied research.