The funding is the latest investment from the targeted enrolment expansion program, a key part of the Alberta at Work initiative. This strategic investment focuses on creating more seats in high-demand programs in the post-secondary system. It will help support the labour market of today and tomorrow and provide more opportunities for students to pursue well-paying jobs in growing industries.  

In the Calgary region, the targeted enrolment expansion program will invest in 28 programs at the following post-secondary institutions:

  • Ambrose University: $198,000
  • Bow Valley College: $4.6 million
  • Mount Royal University: $7.9 million
  • Southern Alberta Institute of Technology: $10.8 million
  • St. Mary’s University: $148,000
  • University of Calgary: $61 million

This investment of $84.6 million supports more than 3,000 new seats over three years in programs including aviation, quantum computing and health care. This funding also includes the previously announced $8.4 million for the University of Calgary’s faculty of veterinary medicine.  

“Calgary has always been a dynamic city of industry and we are seeing growth from many sectors. From aircraft maintenance to film and video production, we are supporting growing demand while providing additional support to core areas like nursing and engineering. This is about helping all Albertans by investing in high-quality learning opportunities that will impact our well-being, our quality of life and our futures.”

Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education

“I’m excited for the new investment our government is bringing to Calgary, including $60 million to support approximately 1,500 new seats in high-demand fields at the University of Calgary. Alberta at Work will help train a highly skilled workforce to meet the needs of today and tomorrow, particularly in STEM and health-care professions. Thank you to our Calgary colleges and universities for helping build a stronger Alberta.”

Jason Copping, Minister of Health and MLA for Calgary-Varsity

“The Alberta at Work funding provides an essential boost to Ambrose University students who are preparing for successful careers in business, community and non-profit organizations in the technology and business and administration and management sectors of Alberta. Funding from the targeted enrolment expansion grant will provide us with the ability to increase capacity in the programs and expand our ability to deliver work-integrated opportunities for students.”

Pam Nordstrom, provost & senior vice-president, Ambrose University

“Bow Valley College is pleased to receive this support, which will see an additional 426 students gain job-ready skills in health care, business, technology and entertainment arts. We are proud to contribute to these growing industries through innovative, contemporary and flexible programming.”

Michael Crowe, vice-president, Academic, Bow Valley College

“MRU is pleased to receive this funding for targeted enrolment expansion from the Government of Alberta as it will enable us to add new seats in high-demand business and computer science programs. The Alberta at Work initiative works hand in hand with Mount Royal University’s emphasis on work-integrated learning, which provides students with more opportunities to learn hands-on from experts in their field and gain valuable work experience that helps them launch their careers.”

Tim Rahilly, president and vice-chancellor, Mount Royal University

“These new seats in high-demand programs will provide highly skilled SAIT graduates to support Alberta’s economic diversification.”

Roy Daykin, chief financial officer and vice-president, Corporate Services, SAIT

“The targeted enrolment expansion funding provides a pathway at St. Mary’s University for students to explore intersections among social justice, entrepreneurship and leadership. We are grateful to the ministry for increased funding to provide access to work-related learning.” 

Dr. Tara Hyland-Russell, vice-president, academic & provost, St. Mary’s University

“This announcement of investments though Alberta at Work will allow the University of Calgary to continue to expand high-demand programs such as computer science, commerce, rural nursing, veterinary medicine and quantum computing, to name a few. It ensures that we are taking an entrepreneurial approach to our programs, offering the highest quality of education to our students, accelerating employability and providing the talent needed by our province.”

Edward McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary

The programs are ready to start accepting more students this fall.

Alberta at Work is a more than $600-million investment over the next three years in new and existing initiatives to help Albertans gain in-demand skills that will support economic growth and attract investment now and in the future. It features investments that support Albertans from primary school to post-secondary skills training, as well as retraining for changing career paths and finding well-paying jobs.

Alberta's Recovery Plan