OLDS — Olds College has been named one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges according to Research Infosource Inc.
However, its ranking slipped to 42nd overall in 2021, from 33rd overall in 2020.
Olds College is one of five colleges in Alberta to be named to the list.
The others are the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Lethbridge College and Bow Valley College.
Olds College is also ranked sixth among small colleges with research partnerships, having 84 such partnerships.
It’s ranked 10th among small colleges for completed research partnership, having completed 45 at the time the list was posted.
“We are pleased to be listed as one of the top research colleges in the country,” Joy Agnew, Olds College's associate vice-president of applied research said in a news release issued by Olds College.
The release indicated that the college’s Smart Farm and related computerized technology are key factors in its rankings.
The college’s primary research focus is on field crop production, livestock production, environmental stewardship, barley and triticale variety development as well as a smart agriculture technologies and practices.
The college collaborates with industry, academics and government to support applied research, innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship.
“The Olds College Centre for Innovation, together with our Smart Farm and Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production, continues to focus on practical, industry-driven applied research that is implementable by the agriculture industry,” the news release said.
According to Research Infosource Inc., Canada’s top 50 research colleges reported $270.9 million of sponsored research income in fiscal 2020 in the form of research grants, contracts and contributions from third parties — an increase of 20.8 per cent over last year.
“Fiscal 2020 was an outstanding year for college research”, said Ron Freedman, CEO of Research Infosource.
“An unprecedented number of institutions — 32 — reported triple or double-digit increases in their research income, which is reflected in the large overall total research colleges gain. It seems that college research was really on a roll in Fiscal 2020.”
