Assiniboine College Earns Spot Among Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges

Assiniboine College has made its debut on Canada’s prestigious list of Top 50 Research Colleges, securing the 47th position nationally. This achievement, announced in late March 2023, comes five years ahead of the college’s target outlined in its 2030 strategic plan.

The recognition reflects over a decade of dedicated investment in applied research, particularly in fields such as agriculture, sustainable horticulture, and environmental innovation. College president Mark Frison emphasized that the college’s journey in research has evolved significantly. “If you went back more than a decade, we weren’t really a big factor in terms of applied research,” he stated. “The shift came through focused growth, stronger partnerships, and strategic hiring. Success builds upon success.”

Frison noted that achieving a top 50 ranking ahead of schedule validates the college’s intentional strategies in faculty recruitment, research support, and infrastructure expansion. A prime example of this commitment is the new $5 million research greenhouse, funded by the college’s first Canada Foundation for Innovation grant, alongside provincial support. This facility aims to enhance opportunities for both faculty and students, particularly in the field of horticulture.

Poonam Singh, a faculty researcher whose work focuses on developing sustainable growing media, highlighted the impact of the greenhouse. “The new facility is transformational,” she explained. “One of the biggest challenges is the lack of facilities. Once we have this new space, I’ll be able to do so many more trials simultaneously and work with more industries in their commercialization journey.”

Singh’s research involves utilizing waste materials, such as cattails, hemp fiber, wood waste, sheep wool, and biochar, to partially replace peat in greenhouse production. This initiative aims to mitigate environmental impact while creating efficient, reusable alternatives. Her projects engage with over a dozen industry and funding partners, including Manitoba Agriculture and various national research organizations.

The growing reputation of Assiniboine College is enhancing its visibility within Canada’s research community. Singh remarked that being recognized on a national list underscores the significance of their contributions. “We are a small number of researchers, but our contributions are large,” she noted. “It’s nice to see that being recognized. Now it’s easy to say we are among the top 50. It emphasizes that we are doing significant research.”

Frison acknowledged that this ranking will facilitate new partnerships and funding opportunities. “Profile like this does help,” he said. “When somebody is thinking about doing a project, they think, ‘Maybe there’s somebody at Assiniboine who could be part of our team.’”

The recognition has also drawn praise from Renée Cable, Manitoba’s Advanced Education Minister, who stated in a news release, “We are proud of the leadership our colleges in Manitoba are showing on the national stage when it comes to applied research. They contribute to both strong student learning outcomes and industry competitiveness.”

The annual Top 50 list is compiled by Research Infosource Inc., a national research and consulting organization that monitors research performance among Canadian post-secondary institutions. Assiniboine College’s entry into this elite group marks a significant milestone in its commitment to fostering research and innovation in the region and beyond.