Keyano College Launches New Strategic Research Plan (2025-2030): Researching the Needs of Rural, Remote and Northern Communities from within at Keyano College
Keyano College’s newly launched 2025–2030 Research Strategic Plan marks a major step in advancing community-driven, Northern-focused research by centering local voices, strengthening regional capacity, and aligning its research agenda with the real needs and priorities of rural, remote, and Northern communities.
Keyano College, located in Fort McMurray, Northern Alberta, Canada, has launched its 2025-2030 Research Strategic Plan. This is a significant step toward advancing community-driven, place-based research in Northern Alberta. Building on a successful NSERC Mobilize grant that addresses Human Sustainability in the North, the new plan is guided by a research agenda deeply rooted in northern experiences and by principles of collaboration, innovation, and respect.
This strategy underscores Keyano College's commitment to its communities by focusing on three essential pillars:
- Community Health and Wellbeing
- Northern Community Sustainability
- Environmental and Technological Innovation
These will direct research toward authentic challenges and opportunities faced by Northern, remote, and rural communities.
Keyano College has furthered its dedication by establishing the new title of Research Chair, Northern Community Sustainability, aligning research leadership with its evolving strategic focus. According to the Interim Vice President, Academic and Student Experience, Sarah Schmidt the plan is about creating research that "listens, collaborates, and builds lasting impact for our communities."
The plan, founded on respect, partnership, reconciliation, and sustainability, reflects a shared commitment to working with Northern communities to shape a prosperous future for the region. The Research Chair, Northern Community Sustainability, Maike Schmieding, who also acts as Keyano College’s UArctic’s Primary Assembly Representative, stresses the importance of centering reciprocity and local capacity-building when building a research strategy focused on Northern research. “For UArctic members, Keyano College’s strategic research plan represents a model of how Northern institutions can connect education, research, and community engagement. Through centering local voices and community needs, this strategy advances UArctic’s mission of strengthening Northern capacity and ensuring that knowledge produced in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions directly benefits the people who live there.”