York University launches classes in Markham via IBM partnership

Plans continue to establish York University/Seneca College campus in Markham Centre

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 26, 2019
Heidi Riedner

While the city expects to know whether York University’s satellite campus is a go by the end of this year, the university recently expanded its academic footprint in the area by offering programming for the first time at IBM Canada’s headquarters in Markham.

“York and IBM have a long history of supporting innovation, research and development and we are excited to have the opportunity to expand experiential learning for our students through this new initiative,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton during the official launch in Markham on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Work integrated learning opportunities make the grade for students such as Astrid Almeida, a fourth-year commerce student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies who spoke at the event.

Networking events and lunchtime seminars for York students and IBM employees are scheduled for this fall.

The program is also expected to have IBM employees as guest lecturers in relevant classes and discussions are also underway to expand internship opportunities for students.

“York University is committed to better serving the growing population of 18- to 24-year-olds seeking post-secondary education in York Region, and to support entrepreneurship in the region through cross-sectoral collaboration,” Lenton added.

IBM Canada’s Vice President, Enterprise and Commercial, Beth Bell, said partnerships such as these “are demonstrative of how cities, education institutions and technology companies can come together to shape the learning experience for students and build the skills of tomorrow”.

Markham is already home to Innovation York, which is located at IBM and to YSpace, which opened in downtown Markham in 2018.

Technology incubator ventureLAB, which supports tech start-ups, is also located in IBM Canada’s headquarters, along with IBM Innovation Space, a hub to more than 40 tech companies.

The partnership between Canada’s third-largest university and one of Canada’s leading technology companies and Markham’s largest employer signals the beginning of an exciting chapter on the road to higher education, Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti said.

“This is by far the biggest, the best and the brightest presence any university has in York Region and gives students an additional opportunity to study closer to home … (while) benefiting from the opportunity to learn in a high-profile and dynamic environment among some of the best innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs,” he added.

In the coming years post-secondary enrolment in the GTA is expected to grow among 18- to 24-year-olds, particularly in York and Peel regions.

Scarpitti and York officials confirmed plans continue to establish a York University/Seneca College campus in Markham Centre.

Shovels were scheduled to break ground this fall for the total $252-million project approved by the former Wynne government in 2015 and bolstered by a $127 million funding agreement in 2016 before the Ford government axed the capital funding in October of last year.

“Our commitment is as strong as it ever was and (York) has been looking at different scenarios to allow them to build,” Scarpitti said at a meet the mayor event in Unionville earlier this month.

To keep the project on track, The City of Markham donated five acres of land worth between $25 million and $30 million, York Region pitched in $25 million, and other donors have made significant contributions.

“It’s far from over," Scarpitti added. "There’s still a lot of work that they are doing and, hopefully, by the end of this year, we have an answer that they can move forward without the money that they were going to get from the province. Ultimately, however, the province will be on the hook for the operations of it when its fully occupied.”

The proposed building has been designed and new programs developed for a campus expected to open in 2021 and serve 4,200 students when fully operational.

Ontario is one of the very few provinces that is anticipating an increase in university enrolment, Lenton said in an interview just after the provincial funding was cut.

“We were very careful about why we were moving forward with this campus, which was to meet the students’ needs and to meet the employment needs.”