PROVINCE TO ESTABLISH KWANTLEN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

SURREY – Kwantlen University College will become a university, to be called Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), Premier Gordon Campbell and Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell announced today.

“The new Kwantlen Polytechnic University will help meet the need for skilled people to enter into the workforce and will provide thousands of students with enhanced regional access south of the Fraser River,” said Premier Campbell. “As a new university, KPU will build on its reputation of creating pathways for students between trades and professional careers in business and for its specialisation in the areas of sustainable horticulture and applied fashion, interior and technology design. It will also build on its strength as an institution that helps graduate nurses from other countries to upgrade their English language skills and prepare them to write the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination.”

Pending amendments to B.C.’s University Act, the new Kwantlen Polytechnic University will focus on the training needs of the region, and build on its international reputation in key areas of specialisation and excellence, including trades and technology; community health studies, which includes a unique bachelor of psychiatric nursing program; the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture; and applied design.

“The consultations conducted as part of the Campus 2020 process clearly identified that British Columbians want to access university degree programs in all regions of the province.” Coell said. “With a new university serving the South Fraser region, students will be able to access degree programs closer to home.”

“Becoming a university means we can enhance programs that contribute to the knowledge and skills needed by our growing, increasingly diverse region,” said Kwantlen University College president Skip Triplett. “At Kwantlen, students will get access to integrated citation, certificate, diploma and degree programs designed specifically for their and their province’s success.”

Amendments to B.C.’s University Act will be required to allow for the designation of the new university.

Kwantlen College was established in 1981 and became Kwantlen University College in 1995. It has campuses in Surrey, Cloverdale and Surrey Newton, as well as in Richmond and Langley. In February 2007, the Kwantlen School of Business received initial accreditation by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs. Kwantlen’s School of Business is the third school in B.C. to receive such accreditation, after UBC and SFU.

Kwantlen has an enrolment of 17,343 students, including 830 international students. Since 2001, the Province has increased operating funding for Kwantlen University College by $15.5 million and invested $73.4 million in capital projects.

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Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177	Linda O’Connor Communications Manager Ministry of Advanced Education 250 952-6400 250 812-4418 (cell)

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