Advancing our Alberta economy — Technology continues to Thrive

As we see continued emphasis on diversifying the economy in Alberta and around the globe, the School for Advanced Digital Technology is leading the charge to prepare SAIT graduates for the future, across ALL sectors of industry!

To equip the next generation of tech graduates with the skills needed to thrive in a fast-paced and ever-changing economy, the SAIT School for Advanced Digital Technology (SADT) is looking towards the future and evolving to meet the demand for world-class talent. 

The impact of digital transformation continues to be felt by many organizations as we shift towards a borderless global economy. We’re leveraging technology to have a greater impact across all industries as the demand for talent, from entry level all the way to advanced technologies, remains at the forefront.

Advanced technology on its own is a strong field before you factor in the recognition that technology impacts horizontally across every sector — it is in the way we work. At SADT, we’re balancing two ideologies of digital transformation: the first, at a foundational level and the second, by incorporating future-focused advanced technology in education to enable us to work differently across domains. The balance lies in the way we focus on the continual advancement of technological competence, and how we teach and foster the ability to think critically and work effectively with a team. 

As the third largest post-secondary in Alberta, SAIT has a key responsibility to be at the forefront of Alberta’s economic diversification plan with the tools and talent in place. While Alberta remains focused on transformative energy solutions, SADT’s roles in diversifying the economy is at the forefront of our conversations with industry. Recognizing the need for complementary economic contributors and technology, for us, really started before the pandemic. As technology continues to evolve our workforce and home life, further embedding itself in facets of our day-to-day, we want to empower individuals and create space for exploration and frequent utilization.

Prioritization of a broader economy supports stability as we navigate the ebbs and flows of international markets and the global economy. Alberta continues to attract a number of new tech companies looking to establish roots somewhere with a competitive cost of living and access to a job-ready talent pool. It's exciting for SADT to be a contributing provider for technology talent in this province.

In one of many recent announcements, international tech firm Applexus Technologies moving its headquarters to Calgary is further proof our economy is not slowing down. Over the last year, we’ve seen global tech giant Mphasis open its doors here and announce expansion plans, and Garmin Canada unveiled plans to nearly double their employment base in Alberta. There are many more and too many to list, as in any given week there is a new announcement about another organization that has chosen to call Calgary home.

SAIT has worked closely with key partners and various levels of government to attract talent and prepare our graduates for promising futures. Our ability to be agile and adapt with the needs of industry and changes in the economy is one of our key areas of demonstrated success. As the industry grows, SADT is in alignment. More than three enrolment intakes a year means there is a constant flow of job-ready candidates entering the workforce to fulfill the increasing demand for talent.

During this time of accelerated growth, SADT is standing up approximately four new programs a year with an emphasis on designing curriculum that builds on a current knowledge base and provides a pathway for continued advancement throughout any professional career. Areas of study have been identified as the result of proactively consulting with organizations who are adapting their technology needs to support business in a changing new world, with new ways of working. 

A number of new programs in areas such as business intelligence and interactive design have been developed through partnerships with industry. Working with industry advisory boards, we are able to stay in lockstep with trends and identify inflection points with the potential to impact or revolutionize the field. The majority of SADT programs graduate students into high-demand fields. With a foundational focus on emerging technology, students complete capstone projects that provide an opportunity to connect with industry and address real-world problems.

It isn’t a coincidence our programming is aligned with industries looking for talent in Alberta. There’s been significant interest in IT, data analytics and security programs — all of which SAIT offers in a range of credentials. Security, in particular, is trending topic of conversation. We are finding there is not only the need for talent, but an equally important education piece to support understanding what digital security skills and competencies look like going forward. By designing programs with working professionals in mind, we’re supporting the evolution of specific fields through an offering of flexible options to upskill. 

As we look to the future, SADT is evolving into new areas, including the development of advanced programming and course content around artificial intelligence. There’s a heightened level of responsibility to how we develop programs and connect with industry to ensure out graduates are job ready. 

Through strong collaboration between partners and post-secondary leadership, we continue to align programming with the operational needs of industry while maintaining high employment success rates for SAIT graduates. This is an exciting time as we evolve together with industry, leaning in closer than ever to develop the talent of the future and prepare graduates to meet continual advancements.