BCIT is a Top 100 Employer in BC – for the eleventh year in a row
For more than 55 years, BCIT has built a reputation for educating job-ready students through applied, hands on learning. Behind that success is a dedicated team of faculty and staff who help BCIT deliver on its vision to empower people, shape BC, and inspire global progress.
As a people-focused organization, BCIT is thrilled to be recognized by Canada’s Top 100 Employers as one of British Columbia’s Top 100 Employers for 2021. This award marks the eleventh consecutive year that BCIT is acknowledged for its success in fostering an attractive and dynamic organizational culture, both progressive and forward-thinking.
Alongside our post-secondary peers, BCIT faculty and staff were put to the test in 2020 when typical learning and working models shifted dramatically due to the pandemic. But, as always, the BCIT community stepped up and demonstrated the strength of our polytechnic institute – providing powerful applied solutions to solve industry challenges and to safely deliver flexible, relevant, and future-proof education to our students.
“There is always something incredible happening at BCIT and this is a testament to our incredible team of faculty and staff. The resiliency and adaptability they have demonstrated over the last year has enabled us to continue delivering exceptional education to our students,” shares Ana Lopez, BCIT Vice President, Human Resources and People Development.
Just over half of BCIT programs were delivered online in the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms. Meanwhile, 40% of programs and courses that include components requiring hands-on learning were safely delivered in a blended learning model (online and in-person).
Employing nearly 2,000 full-time staff and an executive team of 50% women, BCIT offers a supportive work environment with a heightened focus on safety and well-being. Its ongoing emphasis on engagement, leadership, and development is key in creating a sustainable and distinctive culture where employees thrive.
Setting healthcare workers up for success
From the onset of the pandemic, BCIT faculty and staff sought out creative solutions to support frontline healthcare heroes by tapping into the Institute’s resources and expertise.
Kathy Kennedy, Associate Dean, School of Health Sciences, was instrumental in this process and wasted no time in setting up a new course, FEPA (Focused Education Preparation Advancing Frontline RNs). “The Specialty Nursing faculty came in droves to be part of this project to support our colleagues out there, because we all work on the frontline too,” says Kathy. “What would normally take six months, we did in six days!”
Since the launch of FEPA in April, 2020, over 11,000 people across Canada and internationally have taken the free self-directed course and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “People are so grateful for the knowledge we provided,” adds Kathy. “We just felt so passionate about wanting to help these frontline workers with some tools. We’ve had nothing but support, from our School of Health Sciences right up to our president, for what we were doing.”
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Amy Chen
Media & Communications Specialist
British Columbia Institute of Technology
T: 604.431.4938 | C: 778.384.7245
E: achen202@bcit.ca
bcit.ca
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