Alberta Rural Development Network


The Alberta Rural Development Network is a not-for-profit partnership of nine public colleges & universities. Its mission is "to create a model of rural community development through collaboration in research and learning".

Mandate

As stated on their website, "The Alberta Rural Development Network will use the combined expertise of Alberta's post-secondary institutions to support rural development in Alberta and help rural communities grow through learning."
ARDN focuses on four core principles to create rural connections:
  1. Research
  2. Education
  3. Collaboration
  4. Networking
According to the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, ARDN has so far been successful: "The Alberta Rural Development Network has played a key role in helping communities across rural Alberta to flourish and thrive by strengthening links between Campus Alberta institutions, industry and community-based organizations."

History

ARDN began operations in 2009 with a grant from the Rural Alberta Development Fund and in-kind commitments from its post-secondary members.
Since its inception, ARDN has worked with several of Alberta's colleges, universities and organizations on projects, including Lakeland College and Portage College on a Regional Innovation Network in East Central Alberta, Mount Royal University on a Business Retention & Expansion Symposium, the Alberta Academy of Art and Design on the Company of Albertans, Pastor Tim Wray on the Young Adult Photovoice Project, and Lethbridge College on Social in the South.
More recently, ARDN administered the Homelessness Partnering Strategy's Rural and Remote Homelessness funding stream for Alberta. So far, this has resulted in the funding of seven rural homelessness projects, including projects in Drayton Valley, Chestermere, Fort Macleod and Cochrane.

Members

ARDN publishes a newsletter. The RTAB is published at least once a month.