The creation of a Smart Farm, unveiled at Olds College June 27, could spur the college to provide year-round learning opportunities.
Olds College president Stuart Cullum indicated that during a scrum with reporters during the unveiling ceremony.
A Smart Farm incorporates the latest in technology in order to cut costs and increase yields and profits.
It was pointed out to Cullum that currently, Olds College students tend to only attend the institution during the winter months, while the farm's crops grow in the summer months.
Cullum said despite that, there is some opportunity for students to work on the farm in the early and late parts of the season.
"Well, our students, they're traditionally here often from September to April, but they also engage in practical learning throughout the summer months.
"And so this will be accessible to our students definitely on the shoulders of the traditional growing season," he said. "There is often lots of time before the snow flies and afterwards for them to access this kind of field.
"But I think you make a good point. I think we have to think about how we are opening up our education programs in a way that allows students to have access to these types of facilities year-round.
"So we are looking -- not only at how we innovate our learning environments -- but how we innovate our education programs to enable students to take their education even during summer periods," he said.
During the unveiling ceremony it was pointed out that changes in agricultural technology are very "disruptive" and are happening rapidly. Cullum was asked how the college is responding to that.
"It's a really good point," he said. "The disruption is occurring, and it's only going to cycle more. Like, the way in which things have changed in the past has been a slow progression. It's becoming shorter and shorter.
"So our students not only need to know how to work with current technology, they need to know what is coming and how to adapt to that.
"So it is about establishing, you know, practical skills for today, but it's also about establishing the kinds of skills and capabilities so that they can evolve with the industry as it goes.
"But we also see Olds College needing to continue to provide programming for what we call lifelong learners. Professionals in the field will need to come back in order to stay current," he added.
Art Froehlich, a former board member who has been hired as the college's first thought leader in smart agriculture, was also on hand for the unveiling.
