Since my appointment to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Board of Governors by the Government of British Columbia more than a year ago, I have been very impressed with the commitment and dedication of its senior leadership team, instructors, staff, and students. I’ve witnessed the Institute’s leadership in anticipating and responding to the evolving needs of learners, industry, and employees. What sets BCIT apart, I’ve come to believe, is its laser focus on applied education and its strong partnerships with industry.
BCIT’s Vision—Empowering People. Shaping BC. Inspiring Global Progress—signals the Institute’s passion and ambition for impact. Its renewed Strategic Plan, introduced earlier this year, is guiding efforts to improve productivity, create and fill new jobs, and help people reskill and upskill throughout their working lives. I believe more young people—and indeed, anyone looking to advance or redirect their careers—should consider BCIT as a post-secondary option.
With five campuses and over 50,000 students enrolled each year, BCIT is one of BC’s largest post-secondary institutes. It opened its doors in 1960 and began operating out of its Burnaby Campus (on Canada Way and Willingdon Avenue) in 1964. Its alumni, who are found making an impact all over the globe, have grown to more than 185,000. It offers over 300 programs—from certificates and diplomas, to bachelor’s and master’s degrees—in areas such as Applied and Natural Sciences, Business and Media, Computing, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Trades and Apprenticeship. In all programs, students learn by doing: in small class sizes, with industry-experienced instructors, and in a hands-on, cutting-edge learning environment.
BCIT is the only post-secondary institute in North America educating students in all modes of travel—train, plane, automobile, and marine. It has one of the largest Nursing programs in the province, with nine specialty nursing post-graduate programs. Furthermore, BCIT is the largest provider of computing courses and applied diploma graduates in BC.
Among its five campuses are the main Burnaby Campus and convenient Downtown Campus (with its state-of-the-art Tech Hub), as well as specialized campuses such as the Aerospace Technology Centre in Richmond, Marine Campus in North Vancouver, and Annacis Island Motive Power Centre of Excellence in Delta. Each has something special to offer. Take, for example, its Aerospace Technology Campus, close to the Vancouver International Airport. This 285,000 sq.ft. campus and 40,000 square feet hangar feature a fleet of 20 aircraft, including a Hawker 700 corporate jet, Boeing 737, and Bombardier CRJ-100 jet.
But perhaps most impressively, BCIT has an excellent graduate employment record. According to the BC Student Outcomes Survey, prepared by BC Stats, 98% of BCIT’s degree graduates, 92% of its diploma and certificates holders, and 96% of its apprenticeship completers are employed.
In short, education at BCIT goes beyond the classroom. Project-based learning, applied research, and internships allow students to gain a competitive edge – they will know their workplace and what to expect even before graduation—many even graduate with jobs in hand. I strongly urge our students and youth to give serious consideration to BCIT. I am certain that they will be pleasantly surprised.
Balwant Sanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist. He is currently serving as a member of the BCIT Board of Governors.
