Education and Training Awards 2026 | 5 “It really does increase the valuation of a business when you can translate this mountain of data into usable knowledge”, said Caesar Medel, Neotrust’s CEO. “We now have a translatable asset on our hand that is producing over and over, and we only had (these students) for three months. I can’t wait to get into a position to hire one or two of them back because they were just amazing.” UNF’s growing programme offerings continue to expand the scope of experiential learning available to students. Alongside its established Honours Bachelor of Business Administration and Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, the university has introduced the Honours Bachelor of Science in Bioveterinary Science programme. Responding to the growing demand for professionals at the intersection of animal health, biomedical research, and public health, this programme integrates applied learning throughout and offers students an accelerated journey to becoming a veterinarian through a pre-vet pathway. Industry partnerships ensure students have ample opportunity to learn outside the classroom throughout their time at UNF as well. This was the case for students like Ghazal Mohavedi, from the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences programme. Last summer, she participated in the Summer Student Research Scholarship programme through the Niagara Health Knowledge Institute. Through her placement, she applied the national Hospital Harm Indicator to Niagara Health data to identify preventable harm events, such as infections, medications, medication errors, and fails. “I’ve learned how much can be uncovered from hospital data and how important it is that it’s documented and coded properly”, said Ghazal. “This experience has shown me how research can directly support safer patient care.” Reflecting on her work, she said her courses at UNF prepared her well for the placement experience and gave her a solid foundation to work from. Looking ahead, UNF is expanding its commitment to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges with three new, sustainabilityfocused graduate programmes set to launch in 2027. The Master of Regenerative Sustainability, Master of Sustainability Systems, and Master of Water and Food programmes were designed in direct response to urgent workforce and societal needs, and each will carry the hallmarks of the UNF model: industry engagement, digital approach, and learning that connects students to the issues matter most. These additions reflect UNF’s role as an educational institution invested in shaping a more resilient future. Given its location in the Niagara region, a landscape designed by one of the world’s most significant freshwater systems, programmes in water and food security carry a particular resonance. In 2024, the university declared its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord, joining more than 360 higher learning institutions around the globe to address a range of economic, social, and environmental challenges. UNF’s downtown Niagara Falls campus continues to serve as a hub of collaboration between students, faculty, local industry, and municipal partners. That connectivity is a form of experiential learning, allowing students to engage with the community around them and tackle regional challenges while developing a global perspective. Through its partnership with the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub (NFIH), students have access to its cutting-edge resources including a prototyping lab and content creation studio, as well as expert coaching that can help those with entrepreneurial aspirations build successful, scalable businesses. The NFIH connects business owners with UNF’s skilled graduate students to support real business needs, giving students hands-on experience. These partnerships helped UNF’s first graduating class enter the working world with real skills, real experience, and real readiness for what comes next. For the classes that follow, the university is continuing to build the programmes, partnerships, and pathways to ensure the same outcome, year after year. Innovation flows here. It always has. Contact: Jessica Tay Company: University of Niagara Falls Canada Web Address: www.unfc.ca
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