Humber Supports New Federal Funding

Welcomes recognition of colleges' role in private sector innovation

TORONTO, July 26 /CNW/ - Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning welcomes the Government of Canada's and the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI) announcement of $32.5 million for Canadian colleges, institutes and polytechnics to support vital research equipment and infrastructure.

Humber is pleased to see the development of new funding that recognizes the unique ways in which colleges support private sector innovation and help local businesses bring their new products and services to the marketplace.

"This announcement is direct recognition and understanding of the role colleges play in advancing Canadian innovation through applied research and commercialization activities, especially with small- and medium-sized enterprises," said John Davies, president, Humber and chair, Polytechnics Canada. "The funds will help ensure colleges and researchers, including students, have the equipment and infrastructure to deliver commercial solutions for industry."

Funding for the new program will come from the $600 million announced in the 2009 federal budget allocated to the CFI for new programs to support innovation and commercialization of ideas from the academic sector.

Humber is a founding member of Polytechnics Canada, which also supports the new funding for research. "This new CFI funding will allow our members to ramp up and scale up our commercialization services to our industry clients, by ensuring we have dedicated equipment and facilities to support those needs," said Nobina Robinson, CEO of Polytechnics Canada.

About Humber

Established in 1967, Humber is one of Canada's leading postsecondary institutions. Committed to student success through excellence in teaching and learning, Humber serves more than 22,000 full-time students and 56,000 continuing education registrants. With an internationally recognized reputation for quality learning, Humber offers a wide-range of career-focused opportunities for students to personalize their educational path. Our 150 full-time programs include four-year bachelor's degrees, two- and three-year diplomas, one- and two-year certificates, and apprenticeship training. As a founding member of Polytechnics Canada, Humber offers students the opportunity to participate in applied research projects that find solutions for issues confronting small- and medium-sized enterprises. Humber is one of 12 Vanguard Learning Colleges as identified by the League for Innovation, and the League's only Canadian board member. Humber finished first in its class in the highly regarded Community College Survey of Student Engagement in 2009 in each of four categories, including Active and Collaborative Learning, Student Effort, Academic Challenge and Student-Faculty Interaction. More than 85 per cent of Humber graduates are employed within six months of completing their studies.

For further information: Andrew Leopold, Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, 416.675.6622 ext. 4296, [email protected]