A public polytechnic institute in Calgary, providing skills-based education and applied learning in technology, trades, business, and health.
Address: 1301 16 Avenue NW, T2M 0L4 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Trades and Technology, Energy, Business
Domains taught:
- Automation, Civil Engineering, Ecology and Sustainability, Electrical and Electronics, Engineering, Manufacturing, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
- Associate Degree, Bachelor, Certificate, Diploma
Status:
- Public
Partnerships:
Close ties with industry in Calgary and Southern Alberta, particularly in energy, construction, and technology sectors. Strong apprenticeship programs.
Research:
Applied research and innovation focused on industry needs, including green building technologies, energy efficiency, and digital transformation.
Famous Alumnis:
Robert Thirsk (honorary), Jann Arden (honorary)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
1500
Current students***:
40000
Foreign students***:
10%
Cumulative former students***:
250000
Pros
Leading polytechnic in Calgary, strong hands-on learning, excellent industry connections, high graduate employment rates.
Cons
Focus on applied skills, not a traditional research university, Calgary location.
Best For
Students in Southern Alberta seeking practical, skills-based education in trades, technology, energy, or business, with strong employment outcomes.
- Official Linkedin
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- Linkedin Alumni Page
Most Similar Schools Locally
- Northern Alberta Institute of Technology works in much the same fields, chiefly civil engineering, automation and manufacturing, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, associate degree, certificate and diploma.
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic works in much the same fields, chiefly civil engineering, automation and manufacturing, and it is slightly smaller, at about 28,000 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
- Also strong in civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics, British Columbia Institute of Technology makes a sensible second look at home; it also offers master's programmes and covers marine science and aerospace as well.
- Red River College Polytechnic sits close to this institution on civil engineering, automation and manufacturing; it is also a public institution and also offers graduate certificate programmes.
- Among national alternatives, Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning stands out for its focus on civil engineering, automation and manufacturing, and it is slightly larger, at about 45,000 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
- For civil engineering, automation and manufacturing outside the home country, Gateshead College in the United Kingdom is a natural reference; it is far smaller, with about 10,000 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
- Technological University Dublin brings a Ireland setting to the same core fields, civil engineering, automation and software engineering, and it is slightly smaller, at about 29,700 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
- West Nottinghamshire College, in the United Kingdom, takes a similar route through civil engineering, manufacturing and electrical and electronics; it is smaller, enrolling about 15,000 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
- Students considering a move abroad can look at Guangdong University of Technology in China, where civil engineering, automation and electrical and electronics also form the core, and it is slightly larger, at about 46,022 students against roughly 40,000 here, and is also a public institution.
- Looking internationally, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences in Norway is where civil engineering, automation and manufacturing get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution and also offers master's and doctoral programmes.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
- Continuous Improvement, Energy, Innovation, Lean Manufacturing, Quality Management, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
- known locally
- known locally and internationally
- is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
- is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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