Niagara College’s Vice President Research and External Relations Dr. Marc Nantel, who is also Chair of the National Research and Advisory Council of Colleges and Institutes Canada, was part of a group of research experts who presented at a meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research on March 1.
During his five-minute statement, Dr. Nantel explains how college research is about the application of knowledge to solve immediate problems for industry, specifically for SMEs that approach colleges for help to develop better products, processes and services. He mentions that NC focuses its applied research in advancing manufacturing, agriculture and environment, food and beverage, and business and commercialization, and notes how applied research projects give students a richer education by providing them with opportunities to work directly with industry partners so that they can be a better workforce. He concludes his presentation by asking the Committee to consider the important role that colleges can play in the overall research landscape in Canada by helping to drive job and wealth creation.
In a QA period following the expert statements, Dr. Nantel fielded 12 questions from committee members around a number of topics including college research funding and infrastructure, as well as questions specifically about NC’s research division and activities. NC’s unique learning enterprises, including the Teaching Winery, Brewery and Distillery, were also a topic of interest during the meeting.
Watch a recording of the Standing Committee on Science and Research meeting at this link.
Dr. Nantel’s testimony begins at timestamp 18:31:15 (beginning of session). The QA period runs from 18:48:50 to 19:32:50.
