A Boston-based private university says a search is well underway to locate a spot for a new satellite campus in downtown Toronto, with courses set to start in 2016.
In a release issued Tuesday, Northeastern University said Toronto has the right mix of population size, industry and a knowledge-based economy to make it an attractive spot for a new campus.
“Toronto’s culture of innovation and increased demand for a highly skilled workforce make it an excellent regional partner for Northeastern. We are excited to build a bright future together,” Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun said in a release.
While the school didn’t unveil a full list of programs that will be offered, it did say that the initial options “will focus on fields in high demand from employers in the region.”
That includes Master’s degree programs in project management, information assurance, and regulatory affairs for drugs, biologics, and medical devices.
The school said courses will be taught online and through a “hybrid” method of delivery that will focus on experiential learning such as co-op placements. Northeastern says it boasts “more than 3,000 industry partners worldwide.”
With traditional manufacturing jobs across the province disappearing and with more students finding they need specialized skills beyond an undergraduate degree, similar programs offering access to real-world job experience have been growing in popularity in Ontario.
Demand for post-secondary campuses and the economic activity they attract has also grown in towns where traditional jobs have dried up.
In May, the province announced that it would support the development of a new York University satellite campus in Markham after a fierce competition with proposals from other regions around the province.
Northeastern said it chose Toronto after a three-year process during which its prospective offerings were vetted by Ontario’s Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board.
The school said its search effort to find a Toronto campus is “well advanced” and said it is also in the process of choosing a dean and CEO for the new campus.
Northeastern said it is the first comprehensive research university to be granted approval by the Ontario government to offer multiple degree programs without a local educational partner.
In the release Tuesday, Mayor John Tory said the new campus will be a positive addition to the city.
“Toronto is already known for having a diverse, knowledgeable, and innovative workforce, and by joining a network of cities like Boston, Charlotte, Seattle, and Silicon Valley with our very own Northeastern University campus, we will enhance that reputation,” he said.
