U of A student body soars to new heights

As the University of Alberta ushers in its 118th year of classes Sept. 1, students are challenged to discover all the elements that come together to create a school that consistently ranks within the top 100 globally and is preparing to welcome more students than ever before.

“I want to welcome the largest class in the history of the University of Alberta,” says U of A president and vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan. “The first 45 students who came to campus in 1908 wouldn’t recognize the research and learning powerhouse that this university has become, but they would recognize the untethered optimism and the unbound potential of what could be.”

The U of A’s growth strategy is in full stride. Over the last five years, total student enrolment has climbed from a little more than 43,000 to a record of 48,000 students this year, an increase of nearly 12 per cent. This includes 40,000 undergrads and 8,000 graduate students

The university remains on track to meet its target headcount of 60,000 students by fall 2033.

Adam Robertson, interim vice-provost and university registrar, says there’s an extraordinary collective effort behind welcoming such a large and diverse student community.

“Our growing enrolment reflects the care and commitment of colleagues across the institution and the experience our entire community creates: in classrooms and residences, through advising and student services, and across our campuses,” says Robertson.

“It’s really wonderful to see that community come alive each fall.”

The U of A will also host more than 8,000 class sections this fall, representing more than 3,400 unique courses.

To ensure all graduates leave equipped for an evolving economy, 100 per cent of programs now integrate hands-on learning experiences. These opportunities range from an innovative co-op placement onboard Royal Canadian Navy vessels to the newly established Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Democracy focused on civic education and leadership development.

Recognized as a global leader in artificial intelligence research across machine learning, autonomous systems, precision health imaging and sustainable technologies, the university is using this cachet to tackle national AI skill shortages that reduce potential adoption by up to 52 per cent and cost Canada roughly $16 billion in unrealized economic gains annually.

In 2023, the U of A, in collaboration with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii), launched Artificial Intelligence Everywhere, an online introductory course accessible to all undergraduate students. This was followed closely by the Artificial Intelligence Everywhere Certificate – an embedded undergraduate credential designed to equip students across all disciplines with essential AI literacy.

More recently, AI Literacy for Everyone was made available through U of A Continuing Education. Developed by Amii, the program offers four foundational courses in machine learning and responsible AI training, digital course badges and access to more than 100 new modules, webinars and expert discussions.

Marking a major milestone in institutional reconciliation during the 150th anniversary of Treaty 6, the U of A officially opened its reimagined, $16.8-million First Peoples’ House in time for the start of the fall term. The 40,000-square-foot facility significantly expands the university’s capacity to provide dedicated academic, cultural and holistic wellness support for a fast-growing population of more than 1,900 First Nations, Métis and Inuit students.

And with more than 450 student organizations, a 97 per cent graduate employment rate within five years, and a new Student Services Directory bringing together a full catalogue of resources and supports from across the university, the U of A steps into the new academic year well prepared to educate Canada’s next generation of leaders.