The City of Lethbridge has announced a partnership with a local post-secondary.
A Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, with the University of Lethbridge will focus on building up the two organizations. It is focused on operational strategies.
“We’re excited to see what administrative opportunities we can create together, to benefit the community we serve now and into the future,” says city manager Lloyd Brierley.
“The MOU provides a guide to future collaborations with the University, while celebrating the shared history we’ve enjoyed too.”
Officials say the community is key in the decades-long partnership between the City and U of L, with university president and vice-chancellor Dr. Digvir Jayas saying the growth and success of the post-secondary has been linked with that of the City of Lethbridge.
“This partnership agreement establishes a framework that will allow for continued collaborative opportunities, which have proven to be highly beneficial to both our campus community and Lethbridge and area citizens,” says Jayas.
The MOU includes shared administrative and operational priorities, including making sure the southern Alberta municipality has a strong and long-lasting, resilient workforce. The MOU also highlights how important students are to the future of the community.
“My work-integrated learning experience and continued engagement with the City of Lethbridge have helped me to apply my knowledge from the classroom to the work world, building important professional and critical thinking skills along the way,” says undergraduate student Taylor Manns.
“I have been lucky to have worked on projects with the City that ask vital questions about where we live, including those surrounding urban planning and how municipalities approach challenges — such as population retention. These experiences with the City have been immeasurable for my advancement as a student and as someone who will soon be entering a career.”
Officials say working together will benefit not just the organizations, but the community as a whole, for many years to come.
