Mountain View County council has been given an update on the activities and plans of the Olds College Werklund Project.
The vice-president of development at the college appeared before council during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
He made a PowerPoint presentation outlining the college’s Growing 2025 strategy, which includes seven key goals:
• Be a college known for academic excellence and student success.
• Achieve 2,000 full load equivalents and increase non-FLE by 50 per cent.
• Increase applied research activity by 100 per cent.
• Be a leader in small agriculture.
• Increase earned revenue and investment by 60 per cent.
• Be recognized as an employer of choice.
• Be a smart campus.
The Werklund Agriculture Institute’s five-year business plan includes 2023 outcomes of credit enrolment, partnerships and sustainability, hands-on global experience, industry training, and grant and market position, he said.
Credit enrolment includes post-diploma certificate in agriculture technology integration with first intake in September 2020, diploma in precision agriculture technology with first intake in September 2020, and bachelor of science in agriculture technology with first intake in September 2022.
Partnerships and sustainability includes 25 applied research projects initiated and/or completed with total funding of $1 million or greater, 200 organization partners and alliances, and achievement of operational sustainability by generating grants and donations totalling $12 million.
Hands-on global experience includes 10 international collaborations, 100 per cent ag credit programs to utilize and integrate the Smart Farm in learning outcomes, and Olds College Smart Farm exceeding 2,000 acres.
Industry training includes 500 course registrations, 20 training contracts with external customers, and generating $1 million in business development, continued education and ancillary revenues.
Brand and market position includes credit student applications are 200 per cent of enrolment targets annually.
