Annual Report 2023/24

• Saitsa partnered with SAIT and the Ptarmigan Charitable Foundation on a pilot project to strengthen food security for SAIT students.
• The institution’s 2023/24 Certificate of Recognition Action Plan submission received full marks from the Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships.
• SAIT approved and published a new Preventing and Responding to Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Violence Policy and launched its first sexual and gender-based violence survey for employees.
• Student Development and Counselling hosted a series of Buddy Up information sessions for Men’s Mental Health Month.
• We introduced enhanced employee benefits in January, featuring increased funding for psychological services, vision care and hearing aids.
• In February, the School of Health and Public Safety partnered with Alberta Health Services and St. John’s Ambulance to host naloxone training on campus.

• The Centre for Continuing Education and Professional Studies (CEPS) created an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion starter pack micro-credentials program.
• CEPS is overseeing a new Digital Pathways Hub designed to accelerate careers in technology for equity-deserving groups.
• Departments from across the institution collaborated to plan and facilitate programming for several days and periods of significance this past year, including Pride Week, Diwali, Black History Month, International Women’s Day and Neurodiversity Celebration Week. 

• In September, SAIT’s Indigenous resource centre was gifted a new name, Natoysopoyiis [nah-toy so-poh-yees], which means “holy wind lodge” in the language of the Blackfoot people.
• The raising of the Survivors’ Flag marked the beginning of a truth and reconciliation education and awareness event series at SAIT, which culminated in an Orange Shirt Day march across campus.
• An endowment supporting Métis student success reached the $1-million mark ahead of schedule.
• SAIT introduced an Indigenous graduation celebration to the spring and fall convocation ceremonies.
• All SAIT employees can now access the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation course, offered in partnership with First Nations University of Canada.

• Teams from across SAIT collaborated to launch an Instructional Load Management System. The system leverages course scheduling information to streamline faculty workload planning and program costing, and supports improved academic planning and business processes institution-wide.
• The Office of the Registrar launched the Slate Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to manage domestic applications and prospective student information from initial contact to enrolment.
• A new Industry Data Analytics Dashboard brings together data from multiple systems into a single report, supporting proactive industry engagement across multiple teams.

• SAIT appointed an Associate Director, Sustainability to build a Sustainable Development Advisory Council and steer SAIT’s sustainable development goals.
• The council is working to create a strategy to adopt the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals, alongside the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS) program as SAIT’s reporting framework.
• An Eco-Ambassadors student volunteer program was established to promote events and initiatives on campus, including a Sustainability Fair to mark Campus Sustainability Month in October.

• This past year, SAIT’s Academic Integrity Council drafted an Artificial Intelligence and Academic Integrity policy for the institution. A SAIT-wide consultation process is underway.
• Bill Rankin joined SAIT as Expert in Residence in fall 2023. The Expert in Residence program provides faculty with coaching and mentorship to support digital and technology innovation projects through a Teaching Innovators program.
• Award-winning Cisco Catalyst Chair projects for 2024 included a generative AI integrated capstone project and an augmented reality experience designed to assist with standard operating procedure instruction.
• This past year, the SAIT Connector lab supported more than 30 capstone projects across the institution, ranging from improving bike paths to looking at better wastewater management and using technology to make a better horror film.

• The Capability Framework is designed to revitalize SAIT’s graduate outcomes and shape new ways of thinking for a new world of work. The framework builds on a core of technical skills and competencies to encourage the development, practice and recognition of a set of complementary human capabilities universally important for career success: creativity, critical thinking, citizenship, curiosity and connection. This past year, the Centre for Applied Education Innovation continued to incorporate the Capability Framework into the design of new programs.
• Career Advancement Services provides career readiness support to both students and alumni through industry mentorship and engagement opportunities, as well as support to help students successfully navigate their work-integrated learning course requirements.

• In Fall 2023, SAIT launched its first Business Administration capstone course. SAIT business students also participated in CASE competitions across Canada.
• With some expert advice from industry, a group of SAIT Civil Engineering students explored whether adding graphene to concrete can help increase the durability of Calgary’s crack-prone sidewalks.
• Almost 700 students from SAIT and the University of Calgary participated in a Health Professions Fair event at SAIT in September. The fair aims to expose students to other health professions, increasing their understanding of various roles on the health-care team.
• The International Society of Automation (ISA)-SAIT Student Games is the largest student-led industrial automation games in the world. The games took place in March and this was the 11th year the ISA-SAIT Student Section ran the event.

Enrolment growth, financial and operational sustainability, student experience and retention, and career-ready skills development are all central to SAIT’s Strategic Enrolment Management plan.

• SAIT saw record enrolment in 2023/24. SAIT added more than 800 domestic credit full-load equivalents, including apprentices, in comparison to last year — a substantial growth rate of more than 7%. International student enrolment has continued to grow significantly over the last three years.
• A review of academic advising led to the proposal of a new service model with central coordination and a shared philosophical approach. Once fully implemented, the model will support students throughout their learning journey and contribute directly to increasing student retention and graduation rates.
• In January, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced temporary measures to stabilize growth and cap international student study permit applications. SAIT is committed to ensuring our quota is used to the maximum benefit of students.

• During the reporting period, the Early Childhood Education diploma program received Ministry of Advanced Education approval.
• SAIT also launched certificates in Early Childhood Education, Integrated Artificial Intelligence, Pre-employment Heavy Equipment Technician, Pre-employment Machinist and Pre-employment Recreation Vehicle Service Technician.
• Through Alberta Learning grant funding, apprentice programs at SAIT grew by 854 seats.
• The Primary Care and Advanced Care Paramedic program added a new winter intake for January 2024 with support from Targeted Enrollment Expansion funding.
• The Transfer Affairs Office awarded 4,657.5 credits to 407 students for their recognized prior learning. SAIT has the highest volume of awarded credits for recognized prior learning of all polytechnics within Alberta.
• New and renewed transfer agreements with national post-secondary institutions were developed, including SAIT’s Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management to the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, and SAIT’s Software Development diploma to the University of Lethbridge’s Post-Diploma B. Sc (Computer Science).

• CEPS introduced micro-credentials in Applied Customer Success Management and Applied Product Marketing
• SAIT, Bow Valley College and the Alberta Post-Secondary Institutions Micro-Credentials Forum partnered to host the Alberta Micro-Credential Symposium in November.
• With funding from Natural Resources Canada, CEPS created a Clean Hydrogen: What Canadians Need to Know massive open online course (MOOC). The Alberta Ministry of Advanced Education funded the creation of a Liquified Natural Gas micro-credential.
• With funding from the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) coalition, CEPS created seven carbon capture and storage micro-credentials.

• Dual-credit at SAIT celebrated a decade of helping youth take the future for a test drive this past year. SAIT’s introduced a new dual-credit offering in Recreation Vehicle (RV) Service Technician, the first program of its kind in Alberta.
• More than 150 female Grade 8 and 9 students came to SAIT in November to learn about the skilled trades through hands-on workshops during the second-annual Jill of All Trades event.
• SAIT hosted 24 Indigenous students from Meskanahk Ka-Nipa-Wit Junior High for a summer camp adventure designed to explore their interests, develop new skills, build confidence and envision themselves attending post-secondary.

• Funded by the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund, the Digital Trailblazer Alumni Fund was created to support graduates returning to SAIT to develop and build on their digital skills and expertise across multiple sectors.
• Roger Haddad (Automotive Service Technician '07), a test engineer for Red Bull Powertrains, was the inaugural recipient of SAIT’s International Impact Alumni Award.
• Janice Krissa-Moore (Business Administration '98), co-founder of the Free Store for Ukrainian Newcomers, received SAIT’s Distinguished Alumni Award for her work to support Ukrainian refugees.
• SAIT recognized two Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients this past year: Danielle Murrision (Architectural Technologies '17), Director of Construction for CRAFT Beer Market and Tejeshwar (Tej) Grewal (Bachelor of Applied Technology Petroleum Engineering '18), Vice President of Innovation for Qube Technologies, a market leader for emissions detection technology.
• Cindy Humphries (Medical Radiologic Technology '05) received the 2023 Clarence Hollingworth Alumni Employee Award of Excellence.

• In the fall, SAIT introduced a five-year Intercultural Support Strategy designed to ensure an equitable campus experience and inclusive learning environment for the growing international and newcomer student populations at SAIT.
• In November, SAIT hosted an Intercultural Week to celebrate diversity on campus.
• Study Abroad student experiences included a Diagnostic Imaging study tour to Denmark, a Dental Assisting service-learning project to Guatemala and a multi-program study tour to Costa Rica.

• SAIT joined the World Technology Universities Network, an alliance committed to the inclusive advancement of sustainable scientific and technology teaching and research.
• This year, new transfer agreements with international institutions were developed, including Chengdu Cogdel Century Education Technology Group Co., Ltd. (China) and UpGrad Education Private Limited (India) by the Golden Gate University Program (USA).
• SAIT signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and an MOU with Khoi Nguyen Investment Group (KNI) in Vietnam.

• For the Fall 2023 term, the International Centre (IC) delivered the largest International Student Orientation in SAIT's history, welcoming 1,400 international students to campus.
• Orientation now includes a unique academic readiness program, which gives students an introduction to what to expect in the classroom at SAIT and raises awareness of available academic and support services.
• SAIT’s International Student Engagement Coordinator is helping new international students connect with classmates, get involved in the community, explore Alberta and combat feelings of loneliness.
• In November, the International Centre launched a partnership with the Ambassador Platform to connect current SAIT students with prospective students.

• For the first time ever, Canada was invited to compete at the Trophée Jean Rougié — a renowned French culinary contest for rising chefs. SAIT’s Erik Hansen represented Canada and brought home the top prize.
• From provincials to nationals, SAIT was the most decorated Alberta post-secondary institution at the Skills Canada competitions in 2023.
• Sports journalist and SAIT instructor Vicki Hall was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ontario.
• Chef and SAIT Instructor Kevin Conniff made it all the way to the finals on Food Network’s Holiday Baking Championship.
• SAIT’s School of Business made CEOWORLD Magazine’s list of Best Business Schools in the World once again, this time as the highest ranked business school in Canada and #49 in world. The School of Hospitality and Tourism moved up one spot on CEOWORLD Magazine’s 2024 Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the World. SAIT is ranked #14 in the world and #1 in Canada.

• In 2023/24, SAIT's Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) Hub was awarded 27 grants with a total research income value of $9.4 million.
• SAIT took sixth spot in Research Infosource Inc.’s Top 50 Research Colleges 2023 ranking.
• ARIS collaborated with the MacPhail School of Energy’s Thomas Riley Training Wellsite on an energy project to generate emission-free electrical energy.
• Industrial applied research is underway to address challenges, such as foreign object detection, industrial noise cancellation and methane leak detection — all contributing to advances in safety, efficiency and sustainability in various sectors.
• Alberta's leading research polytechnics — SAIT, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and Red Deer Polytechnic — collaborated to host the inaugural Alberta Corridor Technical Symposium at SAIT's main campus.
• ARIS is joining NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) network to lend its expertise in materials science, advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation through the Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM).

• Training at the Art Smith Aero Centre received a boost with the donation of a 1975 Bell 206 MSN 1682 Helicopter from Eagle Copters and a Jetstream 41 aircraft flight compartment from Marty Abbott, a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot.
• In September, Spartan Controls renewed a 10-year partnership with SAIT with a donation of $1.58 million.
• SAIT is extending its footprint in downtown’s Barclay Centre. Scheduled to open in Winter 2025, a new facility will house a number of cyber programs in the School for Advanced Digital Technology and a new state-of-the-art cyber lab.
• More than 400 SAIT students and employees volunteered to support SAIT’s participation at the 24th World Petroleum Congress in Calgary.

• CEPS launched the Women Building Futures program for a cohort of 13 students. Women Building Futures is a not-for-profit that provides access to skills training and support services to women and gender-diverse individuals who want to enter careers in the skilled trades.
• SAIT and Manpower have committed to delivering the emPOWER Women in Construction initiative through 2027.
• SAIT’s Engineering Technology Management Certificate of Achievement was developed in partnership with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).
• In February, CEPS hosted the Leading Beyond Any Title conference. With the central theme of building leadership and management skills, the conference was attended by more than 200 Corporate Training clients.