CALGARY - Researchers at Bow Valley College (BVC) and Georgian College are the first recipients of Colleges and Institute Canada's (CICan) new Research on Colleges and Institutes Awards for their applied research project. These awards recognize achievements in research that have significantly advanced knowledge of the Canadian college and institute system.

The awards were divided into two categories with BVC winning for best research of a of a system or institutional nature and researchers at Georgian College receiving a nod for best research related to teaching, learning and student success.

"CICan is thrilled to recognize researchers at Georgian and Bow Valley with its first Research on Colleges Awards. The exceptional quality of these research projects and the impact of their findings have greatly contributed to our understanding of the nature and contribution of colleges and institutes in Canada," said Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada.

BVC's winning project was called Meeting the Needs of Diverse Distributed Learner, and the research team led by Dr. Rena Shimoni, Dr. Gail Barrington, and Russ Wilde. The research documented best practices, and led to the development of new tools and processes for conducting policy review, revision, and development. It also included an online toolkit that was created for use by all Alberta colleges when engaging in policy development.

"We are proud of our Bow Valley College research team for winning CICan's Research on Colleges Award. This five-year collaborative research project between eight Alberta post-secondary institutions, the Government of Alberta, and eCampus Alberta, resulted in a policy development toolkit for online learning. This project is also a great example of how applied research, led by community colleges, can address areas of concern in the post-secondary system, and result in changes that enhance learners' access to quality education," said Sharon Carry, Bow Valley College President and CEO.

The award recipients presented their research during a CICan pre-conference symposium on May 24, 2015, in Winnipeg. Their research will also be showcased on a new section of the CICan website on research projects being undertaken about the college and institute system.

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Colleges and Institutes Canada is the national and international voice of Canada's publicly supported colleges, institutes and polytechnics. They work with industry and social sectors to train 1.5 million learners of all ages and backgrounds at campuses serving over 3,000 urban, rural and remote communities in Canada. The Association operates in 29 countries via 13 offices around the world.

About Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College - Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College - with more than 15,000 full- and part-time students, is a leader in business and health career training, adult upgrading, and English Language Learning. BVC's Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES), workplace training for immigrant professionals and employment services provide a wide range of services for businesses and professionals.