RRC Polytech is introducing two new degree programs in Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics. These broadened learning experiences include a foundation in research methods and Indigenous worldviews, as well as Industry 4.0 technologies, to equip graduates with skills and confidence to take on increasing responsibility in the workplace.  

The move creates even more options for learners to meet growing workforce demands in key Manitoba industries, accelerate their education, and advance their careers. The Bachelor of Technology degrees are hosted by the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics.  

Through a flexible 2+1 year degree-completion model, learners can build on their existing technical training, such as an engineering technology diploma, and earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as one additional year.  Full- and part-time completion options support the scheduling demands of working professionals looking to obtain a degree relevant to their field.  

“RRC Polytech has a long history of delivering high-quality applied education that responds directly to labour market needs,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO. “Diversifying our program offerings with these new degrees provides options for existing students, graduates, and mid-career professionals to access the applied and experiential learning that are sought after by industry and hallmarks of a polytechnic education. This is another important step on the path of responsive workforce development we’re building at RRC Polytech.” 

The flexible structure of RRC Polytech’s bachelor’s degree model allows learners to earn while they learn, upskill during their career by building on prior education and experience, and progress seamlessly from technical training to degree-level study. 

This new model responds to growing demand for post-secondary qualifications in Manitoba’s labour market: nearly 70 per cent of all job openings in the five years between 2025 and 2029 will require some form of post-secondary education. And it provides learners with another option along the continuum of engineering technology and engineering education provided by RRC Polytech and partners like the University of Manitoba.  

“Manufacturing is changing quickly,” says Jarvis Penner, Vice-President, Technology Services, Price Industries, and Chair of the Price Institute Advisory Board. “The people who will lead that change need to understand automation, data and digital technology, but also how to apply them to real manufacturing problems. The Bachelor of Technology degrees at RRC Polytech help build that combination of technical knowledge and practical thinking that industry needs.” 

Like all RRC Polytech graduates, Bachelor of Technology grads will bring a mix of practical, industry-ready skills and experiential learning to the workforce from day one. In addition, they will have the skills to develop intelligent solutions to optimize processes, understand customer needs, then translate them into the technical requirements for complex systems, and both foundational skills and experience in applied research. This will equip them to lead in the workplace with impactful decision-making.  

As demand for these graduates grows, demand for bachelor’s degree programs that align with industry needs, learner demands, and societal changes will grow in tandem. This will help RRC Polytech continue to meet learners and industry where they are at and keep Manitoba in front of what’s ahead.