BCIT recognized by Princeton Review’s Green Schools List for 2026

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been named to the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Schools List for 2026. The annual guide recognizes post-secondary institutes that demonstrate environmental responsibility. For BCIT, this accolade highlights the Institute’s leadership in advancing green initiatives and environmental consciousness across all aspects of its learning, teaching, operations, and more importantly – empowering students and employees to pursue and thrive in purpose-driven careers.

In this year’s Guide to Green Schools List, 388 post-secondary institutes from across Canada, the United States, and 16 other countries were selected based on their Green Rating Score. The Green Rating Score is determined using data collected from surveys issued to students and employees. In the survey, respondents were asked about their institute’s sustainability-related policies, practices, and programs, as well as the overall environmental awareness and conservation efforts on campus.

A holistic and practical approach to sustainability

With five campuses and over 44,000 students each year, BCIT is one of British Columbia’s largest post-secondary institutes. BCIT embraces a holistic and practical approach to sustainability so everyone can flourish.

The Institute’s IDEAS initiative – encompassing principles of Indigenization, inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, sustainability, and student wellbeing – provides an interconnected lens to orient how the BCIT community works, thinks, and engages socially. IDEAS represents an ethic of care and accountability which leads to collective, positive impact across the BCIT community and beyond.

Across the 300+ programs in Applied and Natural Sciences, Business and Media, Computing and IT, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Trades and Apprenticeship, the IDEAS initiative is brought to life through hands-on learning that empowers students to become changemakers and leaders in their respective workplaces and communities.

BCIT is where purpose-driven careers begin

With a remarkable 93% employment rate for degree graduates, BCIT programs are designed in collaboration with industry to ensure it remains a place for students to hone their skills, gain real-world experience, and build the networks they need to drive meaningful societal impact.

BCIT alum Aileen Maynard exemplifies this perfectly. In her quest for a fulfilling career, Aileen found the Trades Discovery for Women program. As part of the 16-week program, Aileen took part in a two-week job shadow assignment with BC Hydro electricians, which led to a summer internship with BC Hydro’s electrical design team. It was there that she discovered her calling in electrical engineering and went on to enroll in and graduate from the BCIT Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering program.

Throughout the program, Aileen thrived in the collaborative environment and built strong relationships with classmates and instructors who became her support network.

Aileen is now an Engineer-in-Training and works as a consultant for Hedgehog Technologies, where her work involves project managing a solar energy project that aims to create and bring clean energy to Haida Gwaii.