To be successful in the realm of higher education, institutions must understand the needs of the industries they serve and evaluate the education landscape while keeping an eye on the future to uncover trends and potential challenges. In this fast-paced world, the ever-evolving education landscape includes emerging technologies, new online learning opportunities, funding challenges, rising costs, and shifting demographics. Institutions must be ready to respond and adapt to the changing realities of what higher education needs to provide to the community.
As the first of its kind among post-secondary institutions in Canada, NorQuest College’s Centre for Higher Education Strategy (CHES) works with other post-secondary institutions, government, and community organizations to research and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, access, and outcomes in higher education.
Our research team includes experts with a wealth of experience in higher education, community training programs, and policy review to provide strategic insight and guidance to organizations through excellence and expertise in research, policy analysis, monitoring, evaluation, and implementation.
By examining economic, social, cultural, and political factors to anticipate the future needs of students, institutions, and the broader post-secondary system, we assist organizations with policy development, allowing them to make data-informed decisions that enable capacity building and the determination of strategic directions.
The following are two examples of educational research being undertaken at NorQuest College that focus on innovating educational practices and systems.
Empowering Underserved Communities to Thrive: Assessing the Impacts of a Charter School Model and Targeted Support for Families and Educators
- Project lead: Ewa Esquivel, MEd and Maroro Zinyemba, PhD
- Project coordinator: Mesay Tegegne, PhD
- Researchers: Kostya Tebenev, PhD(c) and Mesay Tegegne, PhD
- Funding dates: 2024-2025
- Project partner: Thrive Elementary School
About the project
Disparities in access have been a long-standing aspect of the educational landscape of Alberta, particularly impacting underserved and low-SES or socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. There is a need for innovative educational options, learning supports, and targeted efforts to help bridge the gap and ensure that families, regardless of their socioeconomic, linguistic, or demographic backgrounds, have the knowledge and resources that will empower them to thrive.
Thrive Elementary School is a charter school that serves K-6 students from low-SES backgrounds in central Edmonton and provides comprehensive services for families, including transportation, nutrition programs, after-school activities, and targeted professional development for educators to enhance educational outcomes. Through a case study of their charter school model and other targeted support for parents and families, the Thrive Research Project aims to enhance understanding of the role, as well as impact, of such efforts to inform our understanding of best practices, future programming, and further potential for research.
This collaborative research project involves a mixed-methods approach, using surveys and semi-structured interviews with parents and educators at Thrive Elementary, and a survey of newcomers in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program at NorQuest College. By collecting data on the experiences of parents and teachers, the research will identify information and resource gaps, as well as assess the implications of the Thrive model for the academic and social experiences of students and families. The expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by underserved communities and actionable strategies to improve educational access and success.
Exploring the Implementation of Generative Artificial Intelligence as a Teaching Tool at a Community College
- Project co-leads: Jeff Kuntz, PhD, Brooklin Schneider, MA, and Caylee Kreller, MA
- Research team members: Uchenna Mgbaja MSc, PMP®, Nasif Hossain, BSc, Rebecca Bock-Freeman, BA, MBA Candidate, Viola Manokore, PhD, and Teresa Anderton, PMP®
- Project duration: January 2025-June 2025
About the project
Can AI transform the classroom? This study puts it to the test.
As generative AI reshapes industries, education is no exception. This research project examines the impact of generative AI (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot in postsecondary teaching and learning. Through the integration of GenAI into college courses, we investigate how instructors and students navigate its ethical use, adapt their learning strategies, and respond to AI-enhanced education.
Nine instructors across diverse programs at NorQuest College are embedding GenAI into their course units and assessments, encouraging critical reflection on its role and implications. This study explores whether AI can enhance teaching methods, personalize learning experiences, and boost student engagement while addressing concerns about academic integrity and responsible use.
Early findings highlight a key tension: While instructors express concerns about potential misuse, students remain uncertain about how to use GenAI effectively. This study seeks to cut through the uncertainty, providing concrete insights into how AI can foster engagement, enhance critical thinking, and support personalized learning—while addressing ethical challenges head-on.
By testing AI’s role in diverse classroom settings, our findings will equip instructors with the knowledge to make informed decisions about GenAI’s place in higher education. More than just theory, this research is about shaping the future of learning by exploring the opportunities and challenges of responsible, effective, and ethical AI integration.
Learn more about the Centre for Higher Education Strategy at norquest.ca/ches