Thompson Rivers University Launches New Department for STEM Education

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) has officially approved the establishment of a new department dedicated to managing its expanding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. This decision, made by the university’s board of governors earlier this month, aims to enhance the administration of new and upcoming offerings, specifically in the field of data science.

The formation of the Department of Data Science within the Faculty of Science comes as part of TRU’s strategy to attract more students by focusing on high-demand areas within the STEM field. A recent report presented to the board highlights that increasing STEM programming is a priority for growth under the provincial government’s agenda.

As a result of these efforts, TRU has introduced several new academic offerings, including a Master of Science in Data Science, a post-baccalaureate diploma in applied data science, and a diploma in computer network and cybersecurity. Additionally, a course-based option for the master’s program has been proposed, and work is underway to develop a new professional master’s program in artificial intelligence.

The growth of these programs has been a collaborative effort between the university’s departments of mathematics and statistics and computing science. However, this collaboration has also led to challenges in accountability regarding program management, scheduling, and budgeting. The report to the board noted that “these new STEM programs have created challenges that are difficult to address under joint supervision, as faculty were hired specifically into some of these programs without a departmental structure.”

In response to these challenges, the new department is expected to streamline the management of these programs. According to TRU President Dr. Airini, the creation of this department will not incur additional costs, as existing coordinator workloads will be effectively redistributed among the new departmental arrangements.

TRU anticipates that the establishment of the Department of Data Science will attract interest from both domestic and international students. The introduction of new STEM programs aligns with the university’s commitment to meet the evolving interests of prospective students while receiving support from the provincial government.

With a focus on high-demand sectors, TRU seeks to position itself as a leader in STEM education in British Columbia. As the new department begins operations, it will play a crucial role in fostering innovation and providing students with the skills needed for a competitive job market.