MEDIA RELEASE

Vision 2020: The Strategic Revolution of Education at Bow Valley College

December 2, 2011

CALGARY — The model of education that has been in place for the last couple of centuries doesn't work for the 21st century learner.

In its groundbreaking Vision 2020 strategic document, released today, Bow Valley College made it clear that big changes are coming and Vision 2020 is the homework we need to do today to be ready to learn into the future.

"Post-secondary education in the year 2020 will look nothing like the education of today," said Sharon Carry, Bow Valley College President and CEO.

"We must revolutionize how we think about learning — from the needs of the learner to the advances in technology we'll use to teach them."

A packed house of students, faculty, staff, and donors, as well as government, business and community leaders — many of whom participated in the community consultation last May — listened as Carry shared the clean five point strategy of the Vision 2020 plan:

1. Being a Learning Partner for Life  
2. Delivering Excellence in Applied Education
3. Optimizing our Community Connectedness
4. Advancing the Diversity Advantage
5. Growing our Capacity for the Future

"Any time, any place, any path, any pace — that's the Bow Valley College education of the future," said Carry.

"BVC students interact with architects of learning — faculty that craft new models of education delivery and work alongside students to build learning communities with opportunities to return to learning-again and again."

Vision 2020 began a year ago as a series of community engagements reaching out to Calgarians from all walks of life. Thousands of imaginative, forward thinking ideas emerged to form the foundation for the College's long-term strategic plan Vision 2020.

Vision 2020 is one of the largest community-based engagement initiatives ever held by a post-secondary institution in Canada.

Tying seamlessly into the fifth Vision 2020 strategy — Growing Our Capacity for the Future — was the landmark announcement of a $1 million gift from RGO President and local philanthropist Ross Glen.

Click here to learn more about Vision 2020 and to read the full Vision 2020 — A Report to Community.

Click here to learn more about the RGO Library and Learning Commons.