New tech talent pipeline laid in Alberta with merger of two SAIT schools

Today, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) announced a new approach to create future-ready graduates.

The majority of programs within the School of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) have joined the School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) to enhance SAIT’s vision of boosting industry talent pools with tech-savvy grads who get hired in support of our industry partner’s needs.

A handful of other ICT programs have been brought into the School of Business— one of three Canadian schools to make the top 100 of CEOWORLD Magazine’s Best Business Schools in the World for 2021.

“For more than 105 years, SAIT has worked closely with industry in meeting their needs,” says Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO. “This new strategic path for our School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) will help ensure our graduates have the skills necessary to contribute to the economy’s future growth.”

SADT was launched in Sept. 2020, fueled by a $30 million donation by philanthropist and businessman, David Bissett, making it the largest gift in SAIT’s history and Bissett’s largest gift ever to a post-secondary institution.

This transformative donation was gifted with the intention of creating a school where students could learn the digital skills needed to get a job in today’s fast-paced, tech-focused economy.

“As we continue our economic diversification in Alberta, SAIT plays an important part of Calgary and Alberta’s growing digital technology ecosystem,” says SADT’s Chief Catalyst, Jim Gibson. “This enhanced approach will help solve some of the biggest talent challenges we’re facing in this province.”

Joining Gibson in a co-leadership role is the School of ICT’s Dean, Dr. Raynie Wood, who will now lead as Dean of SADT. Together, Gibson and Wood are ready to embrace digital disruption and transformation, cultivate local talent and accelerate business needs. Programs under the School of Business will continue to be led by the school’s Dean, Janet Segato.

Wood says, “This kind of evolution will continue to open up doors for more growth of new applied programs, that are on-time and on-demand, as needed, while continuing to be recognized by employers as meeting their immediate and longer-term talent needs. That’s where we’re going, and it will be an exciting journey!”