Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
EN-9: Community Partnerships

The Automotive Program has partnered with the Alberta Motor Association to receive vehicles that have been written off to be used in their programs. Vehicles that are no longer needed by NAIT are then donated to local high schools for their automotive programs. These damaged vehicles are reused within the community and serve as materials for students to learn and practice various employability skills on. NAIT also has an ongoing partnership with United Way, a local organization which aims to alleviate poverty in the Edmonton region. Every year NAIT hosts various work place fundraising campaigns to gather donations.

In 2013, staff from the Alternative Energy program worked with Alberta Parks on a study to determine the feasibility of powering remote campgrounds with solar energy. The study happened at the Touchwood Lake campground. They were interested in determining whether or not it would be more cost-effective for them to power their campground with solar energy as opposed to purchasing electricity from the grid. The Touchwood Lake campground provided the scope and information required for the study, and the Alternative Energy program staff provided different sub plans that could be scaled up and incrementally deployed.

NAIT recognizes that access to its programs and courses can be a hurdle to prospective Aboriginal students, and in 1999, began offering outreach programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners. Establishing and maintaining the partnerships with the Aboriginal communities in Alberta has involved engaging with the bands and building relationships with their community leaders based upon respect for Aboriginal culture and traditions. It has also involved working with industry and government agencies, such as the Rupertsland Institute. Today, NAIT continues to increase access to its programs on-site, at its campuses, and using mobile education units, NAIT in Motion (NIMs). NAIT’s outreach programs to First Nations, Métis and Inuit learners are designed to meet the unique needs of Aboriginal communities. NAIT can assess a community's needs, tailor the programming around them, and bring that programming right to them. In many cases, Aboriginal community leaders approach NAIT and request specific programming, which NAIT can develop and offer if availability and capacity allow. Several of the courses and programs can be delivered in Aboriginal communities in Alberta and across Canada, allowing students to access training opportunities without having to relocate to urban centres. NAIT offers capacity-building programs for people who are already employed where students learn new skills for meeting their on-the-job duties and responsibilities, as well as labour market programs for unemployed Aboriginals to train for entry-level positions. Programs offered range from 2-day workshops to full 34-week programs. Examples include: - Upgrading and Bridging Programs: Aboriginal learners to earn the prerequisites to enter most of NAIT's full-time programs. The Pre-technology - Aboriginal program is designed specifically for the unique needs of adult Aboriginal learners. - Camp Cooking training: through a partnership with Civeo (formally the PTI Group), all Aboriginal graduates from the Camp Cooking training are guaranteed to be hired. - Introduction to the Trades - Health Care transition, - Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program: In order to assist communities in addressing these needs, NAIT, in collaboration with its industry partners, has developed an aboriginal youth leadership program to assist First Nations communities on various levels, leading to benefits such as personal development, student success, and employment and community development. - Full-Time and Apprenticeship Programs: NAIT can also bring full-time and apprenticeship programs that mirror those offered at NAIT's campuses, as well as other technical training, to Aboriginal communities.