If you want to take the pulse of post-secondary education in Alberta, just reach out to the student body, and ideally to its most engaged and most active. At NAIT, that includes the executive team of the NAIT Student Association (NAITSA), the voice of students to the institute and to government.

A month into the 2010-11 academic year, (pictured above from left to right) finance director Jon Hoffman, president Govind Pillai, vice president academic Teagan Gahler and vice president external Timothy Jobs shared their views on what they believe will make for a better student experience – opinions that in some instances could apply to the improvement of any institute in Alberta.

According to the four alumni (Gahler, Jobs and Pillai are currently adding NAIT degrees to their diplomas), a healthy, happy student body is an essential part of the process. Ensuring that requires a team effort involving government, NAIT faculty and staff, and, of course, students and alumni like them. Here’s their perspective on how to make NAIT a truly great polytechnic.

Techlifemag.ca: What advice would you give to the provincial government to strengthen Alberta’s post-secondary education system?

Timothy Jobs (Business Management ’11): Though the last couple years brought zero-per cent increases in funding, prior to that we saw massive increases. What we’d like to see is continued funding for post-secondary education to increase spaces. The Number 1 disservice we might be doing is turning away a qualified student because of a lack of space.

Govind Pillai (Business Administration – Accounting ’09): The inconsistencies in funding put the institution in a very unfortunate situation…. One year the economy’s booming so we have to increase our capacities; the next year it’s not, so we get less money. But what do we do with all the services we picked up during the good year? It’s very difficult for the institution to continue with that level of quality year to year.

Jobs: It would be great to have something similar to the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund. In low economic points we might be able to draw from that to keep funding steady. Basic economics teaches us that investing in post-secondary education during a recession actually accelerates your economy.

Jon Hoffman (Business Administration – Accounting ’05): There are still areas within the student finance realm that could be adjusted. There are also some under-represented groups in post-secondary education in Alberta: First Nations and aboriginal students, international students, rural areas. There could be more incentives to get them into the system.

Describe your vision of NAIT 10 years from now.

Pillai: I think our applied research is going to change our society. With novaNAIT [NAIT’s centre for applied research and technology transfer] and some instructors I’m seeing new ways of making the content we’re learning applicable to solving real-world problems. I think we’ll be seen as an institution that you can go to for those solutions.

Jobs: I think that we will still contribute to the labour force in terms of trades and apprentices and I think that people will see more value in a diploma in technology as they start to retrain. We know that people change careers three or four times in their lives; they often come back to school as adults.

Teagan Gahler (Business Administration – Marketing ’10): I think the value of a diploma has already been increasing. I know students who [also] have a full degree who are hired because of their NAIT diploma. They’re very well recognized, and I think that 10 years out they will only become more recognized and more distinguished….

And our business program has been ever-expanding, moving on to degrees that allow you to qualify for designations in the accounting field. The fact that NAIT grads can become chartered accountants is huge. We are moving forward in our programs.

Hoffman: There will definitely be easier integration with lifelong learning. People with a previous diploma could easily take evening or online courses to get [a degree]. Maybe they’re middle management now but want to move up to a senior position. Or if they’re in culinary arts but want to start their own restaurant, they take an additional business certificate.

Jobs: Also, integrated in the new airport community, we could see a greater focus on environmental sustainability at NAIT.

What are some current student concerns?

Gahler: Around logistics, many students don’t get to pick their class schedule. They complain about that because they have jobs or families or anything extracurricular. Schedules are very rigid. I think the new academic model [which will increase flexibility and delivery options] will help a lot because it gives students power over their own education.

Jobs: I think the Number 1 challenge is definitely transportation – a lack of public transportation and the ease of use of that. With the LRT coming to campus [in 2014] that will definitely help alleviate some of the problems.

As alumni, what kind of relationship do you want to have with NAIT?

Jobs: I’d like my relationship with the institute to be more than just giving money back. I’d like to able to donate my time to help current students on their career path. I’d be able to gain relationships with successful, potential leaders and they would be able to draw from my expertise as an alumnus. If you really look hard, those opportunities exist, but they’re not immediately apparent.

I think that developing a better understanding of what the culture is like at NAIT while you’re here as a student would help. And maybe drawing connections between alumni that graduated together so that they can keep in contact and give back to the institution in various ways might help as well.

Hoffman: NAIT’s a goldmine of knowledge. The instructors are tied in to whatever industry they’re involved in. It’d be cool if they gave seminars on whatever topic, here on campus. As an alumni I would definitely make an effort to come back for that. It’d be a time to connect with other alumni and establish new relationships.

Also, over the next 10 years, if NAIT could focus more on campus life and clubs and ways that people can get involved and volunteer on campus, I think there would be more of an incentive for those students to get involved later as alumni.

What have you enjoyed most about being at NAIT?

Pillai: The opportunities outside the classroom is what has amazed me the most: working with my instructors, students, the charitable events I’ve been involved in, student governance, the senate, NAITSA executive, all of this stuff – and you put it together and you are unstoppable!

Gahler: I’ve really enjoyed my education. Being a student-athlete [on NAIT’s cross-country running team] was amazing. It gave me a total sense of community here. It’s that sense of community that will bring me back to help NAIT.

Jobs: Aside from the student government aspect that has given me a connection to the institute I will never lose, the relationships that I was able to build with some of my instructors was so important.

Hoffman: The people here, without a doubt. They’re approachable and down to earth; they’re experts, but they just fit in as normal people. They’re just willing to be there for you.