Waterloo Region is One of Canada's Fastest Growing Tech Hub

https://researchgateway.cbre.com/Layouts/GKCSearch/DownLoadPublicUrl.ashx 


The link posted above, is a report conducted by the CBRE in 2017, that ranks Canadian cities on their advantages in effort of appealing to technology workers and employers. The report claimed Waterloo Region to be "a tech innovation and startup hub for the country", containing "the fastest growing tech labour pool in Canada between 2011 – 2016, with a 65.6% increase in tech jobs – the second fastest rate in North America after Charlotte, NC at 77.1%" (CBRE, 2017). With a growth rate this large, its exciting to think whats in store for the Waterloo regions future. In addition, the report had found the Waterloo Region led Canada in labour quality based on having "highly skilled and educated workers"  among the 10 markets studied (CBRE, 2017). Overall Waterloo was ranked fifth followed by Toronto in the top position. 
Reading this article I could not help but take into account the fact that the Waterloo region contains two large Universities that specialize in technology, science and business etc. This lead me to wonder what sort of impact the two universities had on the Waterloo regions development as "the fastest growing tech labour pool in Canada"(CBRE, 2017). 

Question to facilitate class discussion: 

Do you think the quality of education at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University has a direct impact on the Waterloo Regions growth in the tech sector? If so please explain. 








Comments

  1. Tiana Oakley4 March 2018 at 14:45


    Yes, I do think that the quality of education at both the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University have a positive impact on the regions tech sector growth and success. Just recently Wilfrid Laurier opened their new business building called, Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. Laurier prides itself on “building Canada’s best business school.” It is not a coincidence that Waterloo was coined the fastest growing tech labor pool in Canada between 2011 – 2016. Laurier has a co-op program whereby students are allowed to practically use their skills learned in school within a workplace setting. Many business students work for small start-ups and are beneficial to the companies growth and success as they can provide educational incite learned during their terms in class. Often time the students will find full-time jobs at the businesses that hired them on co-ops, thus enhancing Waterloo’s employment rate. While Wilfrid Laurier is well known for the business and communications programs, the University of Waterloo is well known for their mathematics and engineering program. Therefore, the two universities combine to create a powerhouse of diverse skills, intellect, and experienced individuals.

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