TechBC

TechBC, whose little-used full name was Technical University of British Columbia, was a special-purpose university in Surrey near Vancouver, Canada. It operated from 1999 until 2002, when it was closed by the BC government and its students and programs transferred to Simon Fraser University (SFU)to become the core of the SFU Surrey campus of SFU.

Although its initial charter suggested TechBC would cover a range of technology topics, early decisions led it to pursue specifically high-tech programme offerings, in keeping with the economic climate and vision of the times, especially in 1999. The institution pursued an "integrated learning" approach, combining heavy use of on-line learning with mixed face-to-face instruction.

All students underwent a common, intensive first-year programme called TechOne, which emphasized core artistic, technical, mathematical, and communication skills. Students completing TechOne could continue in any of TechBC's offerings.

Three programmes were offered at the university's September 1999 launch:

1. Perhaps the most innovative, Interactive Arts focused on the use of computers and technology in the development of art, design, and "new media".
2. The Information Technology program was conceived as a hybrid of traditional computer engineering and computer science programs.
3. Management and Technology was designed to integrate traditional business curriculum with content specific to the management of high-technology industries and also the technical skills required for work in that field.

In its short life, TechBC managed to recruit some high-calibre talent. some very well-known in e-learning circles, but this wiki does not focus on personalities

The TechBC web site was at http://www.techbc.ca/ - after a sad history post closure as a downmarket index site this has now been reclaimed by some former students and acts as an archive.

The closure

Upon taking office in 2001, the new BC government's Advanced Education Minister initiated a review of TechBC's future while a colleague solicited proposals from other BC post-secondary institutions. Simon Fraser University was the first to express its interest, and ultimately was felt by government to be best able to provide the province with a politically acceptable solution. SFU agreed to accept all existing TechBC students, and to operate a Surrey campus on a permanent basis. It continued the Interactive Arts and Information Technology programmes on the Surrey site, while the Management and Technology students were streamed into its Faculty of Business at its main campus on the Burnaby Mountain.

Transition arrangements proceeded quickly, and TechBC officially closed at the end of July 2002, after three waves of layoffs. SFU ultimately hired most of the teaching staff, and some middle-level administrators and support people.

SFU Surrey opened in September 2002, initially with essentially the same campus and programmes as its predecessor.

Despite the pain along the way, it was with hindsight a successful solution which managed to preserve some of the essence of the original TechBC vision.

There are some points of contact with the OLA transition to TRU.

Critical success factors

(to follow)

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