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Sheridan College Strongly Encouraged by Federal Budget

Photo credit: Dan Zen / Foter.com / CC BY Photo credit: Dan Zen / Foter.com / CC BY



From applied research to advanced manufacturing, and initiatives to help attract more international students and donors, Sheridan is very pleased by several announcements made in yesterday’s federal budget.

“This is a good news budget for Sheridan. It recognizes the tremendous role that leading institutions of higher education like Sheridan play in contributing to Canadian innovation and productivity and in creating the flexible and lasting solutions to some of the most challenging problems facing our cities, regions and country,” reflects Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, Sheridan's President. 
Applied Research

“Yesterday’s $12 million infusion to the College and Community Initiatives (CCI) Program is a very positive step,” says Dr. Darren Lawless, Dean of Research at Sheridan. “Sheridan is a current recipient of two CCI awards. One helped to establish our Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) where we’re advancing knowledge related to high frame rate and 3D filmmaking. The other allows the Sheridan Elder Research Centre (SERC) to help companies create products, services and processes to enhance the quality of life for older adults.”  Lawless is equally encouraged that college students who are enrolled in bachelor degree programs like the 12 offered at Sheridan, will now be eligible for the Industrial Research Award Program, previously limited to university students.  “It will provide even more ways to deepen our students’ learning experience and open the doors to their future.”

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Advanced Manufacturing   

The budget included a $1.4 billion investment over the next four years in tax incentives to enable companies to purchase the machinery and equipment they need to be competitive.  “Even with the credit, keeping pace with technology can be extremely cost-prohibitive,” says Dr. Farzad Rayegani, Associate Dean, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering and Technology.  “CAMDT - our Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies, which features state-of-the-art labs for flexible automation and additive and direct digital manufacturing like 3D printing, lets us partner with small and medium enterprises who don’t have large budgets. We create a platform that brings students and faculty together with industry to develop better manufacturing practices as well as product innovation and performance improvements to help companies compete on efficiency.”

International Students

“Sheridan’s international student population has grown by 600% over the past five years, to over 3,000 students,” notes Andrew Ness, Director of Sheridan’s International Centre.  “The $23 million investment in Canada’s International Education Strategy, to position Canada as a destination of choice for education and research is welcome.” Sheridan’s international students hail from over 40 countries, with the majority from India, China, Korea, Pakistan, Vietnam and Indonesia. “They bring a diversity of experience and thinking to the classroom, which enriches the learning for all students,” adds Ness.  “Investments to further enhance student visa processing are also critical. They will allow Sheridan to better compete with our peer institutions in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia to attract top-calibre candidates.”

Donations

Photo credit: Dan Zen / Foter.com / CC BY Photo credit: Dan Zen / Foter.com / CC BY



“Private donations are critically important to the future of post-secondary education,” says Lisa Piccolo, Vice President Advancement and External Relations.

“Over the past 35 years, government funding has shrunk from 86% to 41% of our budget.” 
The new first-time donors’ Super Credit announced in yesterday’s budget was created to help encourage donations by more Canadians.  “Private philanthropy enables Sheridan to offer the cutting-edge programs, scholarships and state-of-the-art facilities that help our students realize their full potential.”



As one of Canada’s leading postsecondary institutions, Sheridan offers over 100 diploma, certificate, and bachelor degree programs. Its aim is to become Ontario’s first university dedicated to undergraduate professional education – a model that will be based on applied learning and Sheridan’s renown for creativity and innovation.  The model also focuses on meeting university accreditation requirements so that Sheridan graduates have more pathways to the continued learning that will underscore their personal, career, and industry success.

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