Tuesday March 18, 2025 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated March 23, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Royal Roads University has received $677,800 from PacifiCan to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability in our region.
PacifiCan is the dedicated federal economic development agency for British Columbians.
The funding will be targeted at strengthening municipal and First Nations economic development partnerships and fostering new opportunities that the university calls long-term impact.
“Collaboration is at the heart of progress,” says the university in a new release.
“RRU students, staff and faculty, along with our community partners, look forward to working together to strengthen regional supply chains, promote knowledge sharing, and attract investment to our communities,” the university stated.
“Thank you, Pacific Economic Development Canada, for investing in the future of our communities!, posted RRU President Dr Philip Steenkamp in social media this week emphasizing the economic development partnerships between municipalities and First Nations.
“The funding will help Royal Roads expand community learning partnerships, deepening engagement with existing community partners, while extending outreach to new communities within this burgeoning region,” said Steenkamp.
Two campuses:
Both Royal Roads University campuses are in the west shore area of Greater Victoria.
The original campus is in Colwood (an old military college transformed to modern use) and the brand new campus is in the heart of downtown Langford (expected to be opened for September 2025.
Funding and paradigm context:
This funding comes at a time when the number of international students is lower than in previous years due to a federal immigration cutback.
As well, Royal Roads is undergoing a paradigm shift from being nearly exclusively a high-cost post-graduate institution to now welcoming the new undergrad population of students straight out of high school.
For decades it’s been seen that many west shore high school students graduating from the local Sooke School District (SD62) either don’t go on to post-secondary (due to the cost) or travel afar to other institutions in other cities and provinces (often at a cost to families).
Royal Roads has collaborated with the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Justice Institute of BC to develop the new curriculum at the Langford campus in an effort to resolve both perceived impediments to going on to post-secondary.
===== RELATED:
- Sociopolitical impacts of social media explored by panel at Royal Roads (March 12, 2025)
- New Royal Roads undergrad programs: parent webinar Feb 11, student open house Mar 1 (February 10, 2025)
- Royal Roads University launches phased undergrad programs at Langford & Colwood campuses (February 4, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: POST SECONDARY EDUCATION | SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND