Monday March 23, 2026 | COLWOOD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Royal Roads University (RRU) based in Colwood on south Vancouver Island and Mount Royal University (MRU) based in Calgary are expanding access to graduate education in Alberta through a new partnership.
The new partnership will, for the first time, offer Royal Roads in-person residencies within Alberta.
Beginning in fall 2026, Alberta-based learners enrolled in select Royal Roads graduate certificate programs will be able to complete a required in-person residency in Calgary, reducing the need for inter-provincial travel while maintaining RRU’s flexible, primarily online delivery model.
Staying rooted in community:
“We recognize the value of learners being able to stay rooted in their communities while advancing their education,” said Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads University in a news release today.
This highlights the value of not having to travel (cost and inconvenience) to complete the various programs, as well as the challenge of finding short-term accommodation during those stays while there is a housing crisis in the south Vancouver Island area.
Expanding access:
“Partnerships like this are increasingly central to how universities expand access, strengthen programming, and respond to evolving learner needs,” says Steenkamp.
“Increasing accessibility to graduate education is important to Mount Royal and for our community,” said Tim Rahilly, President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Royal University.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Royal Roads University to expand access to high-quality programs for Albertans, in Calgary, and in more flexible ways from their home province,” says Rahilly.
Focus on leadership, innovation and applied skills:
Programs launching in September 2026 and January 2027 will include a one-week, in-person intensive hosted at MRU’s Calgary campus as part of Royal Roads’ online graduate certificates.
Designed for working professionals, the programs focus on leadership, innovation, and applied skills development, while enabling learners to remain connected to their local communities.
This residency offering marks the first academic initiative under a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two institutions. The agreement aims to enhance academic and research opportunities, facilitate student and faculty exchanges, and foster innovative collaborations on joint research projects, academic programs, and community engagement initiatives.
Programs in Calgary:
The graduate certificate programs with Calgary-based options are:
- Graduate Certificate in Change Management – September 2026 (Residency: Online or Calgary, Alberta)
- Graduate Certificate in Management and Leadership – October 2026 (Residency: Colwood, B.C. or Calgary, Alberta)
- Graduate Certificate in Corporate Social Innovation – January 2027 (Residency: Online or Calgary, Alberta)
- Graduate Certificate in Systems Leadership in Higher Education – January 2027 (Residency: Online or Calgary, Alberta)
Future-focused:
As two of only seven institutions in Canada recognized as Ashoka Changemaker Campuses, MRU and RRU share a commitment to innovation and responsive, future-focused programming.
This designation recognizes institutions with a demonstrated, campus-wide commitment to social innovation and changemaking. Building on that shared foundation, the partnership expands access to education across provincial boundaries while advancing new opportunities for learners.
Other campuses:
Royal Roads University also operates a campus in downtown Langford with a focus on under-grad programs, and has operated a satellite campus in Dubai, UAE (current status to be confirmed given the war in nearby Iran).
===== RELATED:
- Post-secondary institutions should adjust to current conditions, says Ministry (March 12, 2026)
- Royal Roads University priorities for 2026-2027 (March 1, 2026)
- NEWS SECTIONS: POST-SECONDARY | ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY