Red River College proudly announced today a renewal of its strategic
alliance with MTS Allstream, a five-year relationship worth
approximately $1 million dollars.  The renewal was announced during the
unveiling of the new MTS Allstream Lecture Hall at the College’s Notre
Dame Campus. MTS Allstream has supported Red River College’s innovative
applied learning initiatives and programs since 2003.

“From developing new wireless technologies, to producing television
broadcasts, MTS Allstream has certainly been a valuable partner of Red
River College and a strong supporter of our students and graduates,”
said Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, President of Red River College. “We’re happy to
build on that partnership, and we anticipate developing many exciting
new technological innovations together.”

“We are proud of the strong relationship we’ve built with Red River
College,” said Dean Prevost, President Enterprise Solutions, MTS
Allstream. “The relationship is about more than funding, it’s about
providing the best opportunities for students to pursue their dreams in
innovation and technology. We look forward to continuing our
relationship with Red River College and, more specifically, supporting
the College’s applied research and development programs.”

Since January 2003, MTS Allstream has supported Red River College by
providing communications equipment and services, hired summer students
and graduates, awarded student scholarships, participated in career
fairs, and sponsored the Red River College Students’ Association and
the Red River Racer. MTS Allstream has also given hands-on training
opportunities to students through the production of MTS TV Manitoba
Moose hockey game broadcasts.

The MTS Allstream Lecture Hall is located in room GM42 at the Red River
College Notre Dame Campus. MTS Allstream Lecture Hall is used for video
presentations, meetings, learning seminars, and student lectures, and
hosts 113 students as part of the 65 programs taught at the Notre Dame
campus.

Recognized as one of the top corporate citizens in Canada’s
telecommunications industry, MTS Allstream supports select
environmental and educational initiatives across the country.

It was announced today that Red River College will be submitting a
proposal to the Council on Post-Secondary Education (COPSE) to combine
its current RN diploma program and joint RRC-University of Manitoba RN
baccalaureate program into a new baccalaureate RN program.

In addition to providing 15 additional RN education seats, the new RRC
degree program will provide nurses with a four-year baccalaureate
degree delivered on an accelerated 32-month schedule. The proposed
program would be launched in September 2010.

“Red River College is proud of the role we’ve played in helping build
capacity across Manitoba’s health-care system and we’re happy the
province is moving to expand our degree granting authority by
supporting a new, larger accelerated nursing program,” said Dr. Jeff
Zabudsky, president of Red River College.

Red River College (RRC) and Shenyang Institute of Engineering (SIE) of
China have reached an agreement to create a new joint program in
Electrical Engineering Technology. The partnership is the first of its
kind for a Chinese educational institution.

The agreement was signed at RRC’s Princess Street Campus today by SIE
President Dr. Zhang Tieyan, RRC President Dr. Jeff Zabudsky, and RRC
Vice-President of Business Development David Leis.

Under the new program, students will train for two years at SIE, and
then have the option to transfer to RRC for one and a half years of
study in the Electrical Engineering Technology program. Graduates will
receive diplomas from both SIE and RRC. The first intake of students
from China is expected in September 2010.

The joint diploma program is the latest development in RRC’s lengthy
relationship with SIE. For over 20 years the two institutions have
participated in faculty and student exchanges and joint program
development and delivery. One of the first students to participate in a
joint program was Dr. Zhang Tieyan, who studied English under the
guidance of an RRC instructor during the early-nineties when he was a
teacher at SIE.

As part of its "We Believe in Winnipeg" series, the Winnipeg Free Press profiled Red River College in its April 27th issue. Topics included the dramatic growth the college has experienced in the past decade, our efforts to enhance the perception of college-level education, and our plans to expand at both the Notre Dame and Exchange District campuses.

Read the whole story here.

Manitoba colleges would be able to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees under proposed amendments to the Colleges Act and the College universitaire de Saint Boniface Act introduced today, said Advanced Education and Literacy Minister Diane McGifford.

“New industry standards, areas of specialization, technological advances and more complex tools and equipment are all career-related trends and issues that point to the need for expanded educational opportunities for Manitoba’s post-secondary students,” McGifford said.  “The province is responding to a need identified by Manitobans, industry and labour market analysts across Canada.”

The minister said she was pleased to be able to announce $250,000 which would support the development of the first proposed degree at Red River College, which would directly support Manitoba’s construction sector, pending the passage of the legislation.

The proposed legislation would support Red River College’s plans to begin the offering a degree in construction management, which would be the first program of its kind available for Manitobans.

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