On July 24, the City released a preview of key strategic elements of its proposal for bringing a full, accredited university to Brampton.
Over the past year, the City has worked closely with stakeholders and internationally-renowned educational institutions like Ryerson University, University of Guelph-Humber, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Queen Mary University of London, D2L and Algoma University, to help inform a plan for its own university, BramptonU, and a new agile and innovative model being proposed for postsecondary education in Brampton.
Announced last week, the Province's updated Major Capacity Expansion Policy Framework for Ontario's colleges and universities opens the door for these types of expansions.
Work is underway on building out the full proposal to submit to the Province of Ontario later this fall:
- Established as an autonomous public institution by an Act of the Province of Ontario, Brampton University aims to become a fully-comprehensive public university with around 30,000 students by 2040.
- The proposed university's governance committee would include existing educational partners, members from local government, business stakeholders, and primary to secondary education partners.
- Programming focus will prioritize key growing sectors, including in Digital Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability; as well as align with the City's economic areas of priority, including: Advanced Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology, Food and Beverage Processing, and Health and Life Sciences.
The City remains committed to building on its long-term relationships with existing postsecondary partners, including Ryerson University, Algoma University and Sheridan College. These institutions continue to invest and grow in Brampton, creating new educational and economic opportunities.
From August 17 to 19, Mayor Patrick Brown, Councillors, and City officials will participate virtually in the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Annual Conference. Council will continue to advocate for funding and increased collaboration on key projects for the city, like BramptonU.
For more details on BramptonU, visit www.bramptonu.ca.
Quotes
"Over the past few months, the job market and world that we work within has completely changed - amplifying the conversation around the skillsets most needed for the future. As one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Canada, it is critical Brampton have its own standalone university to help foster our talent who are an integral part of our economy's resilience and success, especially during this critical time. I appreciate the Province's recognition of the evolving and crucial role postsecondary education plays and look forward to more discussions on how we can best invest in our future workforce."
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
"We are currently seeing first-hand how the traditional models of both work and education are transforming. Our BramptonU proposal is founded on a new, innovative and affordable way of delivering education that is in line with this changing landscape. This made-in-Brampton solution will help grow our talent and keep them here as an integral part of our growing economy."
- Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 & 5, City of Brampton
"We know that 83% of Brampton residents want a Brampton university and 82% of Brampton residents want more flexible university programs. We have listened to our youth about the types of learning and experiences they are looking for to prepare for the workforce. Taking the key themes we heard and collaborating with internationally-recognized educational institutions, I am confident that we have developed a modern solution that addresses real needs and will set up our young people for success in the future."
- Harkirat Singh, City Councillor, Wards 9 & 10, City of Brampton
"Brampton's young and growing talent pool is crucial to our city and region's economic growth and competitiveness. The City continues to work closely with local businesses, educational partners, community stakeholders and other levels of government to ensure our plan for BramptonU addresses the current needs and future opportunities for our employers and workforce."
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton
