Algonquin College

History, Affiliations and Rankings

Algonquin College was established in 1967 with the merging of the Eastern Ontario Institute of Technology and the Ontario Vocational Centre. It was named after the First Nations people, who were the first to inhabit the city of Ottawa and was founded to bridge the demand for a career-oriented education. Today, through expansion of facilities, optimizing curriculums and forging strategic partnerships internationally, the College has become one of Canada’s leading providers of professional, skill-based education. The College offers valuable education and skills training to meet the demands of the marketplace and launch a rewarding career for all the students. Across its 7 Schools, the College offers highly competitive programs that are focused on preparing work-ready graduates. Algonquin College is affiliated with Colleges and Institutes Canada (AUCC), Universities Canada (AUCC), the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) and more. 

Infrastructure, Campuses, Courses

Algonquin College has three campuses, the main Ottawa campus, the Pembroke campus and the Perth campus, all of which are state-of-the-art infrastructures. The College also has an international campus in Kuwait, which is the first Canadian University in the country and offers programs in Business, Media Design and Advanced Technology. Algonquin College is academically structured into 7 constituent Schools and Faculties, namely Arts, Media and Design, Health, Public Safety and Community Studies, Advanced Technology, Construction Excellence, Heritage Institute, Business, Hospitality and Tourism and AC Online.  Nearly 300+ academic programs including, Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, Diplomas and Graduate Certificates are offered across these Faculties. Further, a broad range of Online courses, co-op programs and apprenticeship programs are also on offer to induce flexibility in learning methods. 

Accomplishments and Alumni

90% of Algonquin graduates secure employment within six months of graduation, while 96% of them would recommend Algonquin to others. It is the first among colleges in Canada to sign the Talloires Declaration for a green and sustainable campus. Further, according to Research Infosource, Algonquin College ranks as one of Canada’s Top Research Colleges, pioneering research in multiple avenues including, Health and Community, Biotechnology, Business, Environment and Energy and more. For students, and for the faculty alike, Algonquin is an inclusive, close-knit community that has been recognized as a Top Employer in the National Capital Region of Ottawa. Some of the notable alumni of Algonquin College include - Jon Cassar (Emmy-winning Hollywood Producer and Director of the TV Series 24), Collin Douma (Senior VP, Global Digital Planning Director at BBDO New York), Sue Holloway (Medal-winning Olympian and the 1st Woman to compete in Summer or Winter Olympics), John Geleynse (Director, Technology Evangelism at Apple Inc.) and more.

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

The student body at Algonquin College comprises 19,900+ full-time students out of which, 4000 are international students who come from 130+ countries around the world. 41% of the students fall in the age bracket of 20-24, while 47% of the student body comprises female students. At Algonquin, there are plenty of ways to make friends and interact with peers from distinct cultural backgrounds. One of them is to join a student club - from Rock Climbing to a Chess Club, from a Gujarati Students club to Wordsmiths, Music, Anime and a Ski and Snowboarding club - there are a plethora of activities to get involved in at Algonquin. Graduates from Algonquin College are known to work primarily in government and corporate organizations, including Government of Canada, City of Ottawa, Shopify, Walmart, ScotiaBank, Nokia, RBC and others.