What students learn at BCIT today has a direct impact on the industries and communities of tomorrow. Thanks to the generosity of Leica Geosystems and Spatial Technologies, students are gaining hands-on experience with advanced industry software that prepare them not only for successful careers, but to make a meaningful difference in the world around them.
“Student success is about unlocking potential and creating opportunities for every learner,” says Joanna Tong, Executive Director, BCIT Foundation. “Through this generous donation, students will have enhanced access to industry-standard technology and hands-on training that will help them develop the skills, confidence, and experience needed to achieve their goals and lead in their chosen fields.”
Through this partnership, students are working with leading software technology to capture and interpret real world data. Using technologies such as drones, laser scanning, and reality capture systems, students learn to collect, process, and interpret real world data for applications ranging from landscape mapping and infrastructure assessment to construction monitoring and environmental stewardship.
From collecting data to converting it into clear and actionable insights, students are building practical skills used every day across industries including construction, engineering, and environmental management. This hands-on experience ensures BCIT graduates enter the workforce confident, capable, and ready to contribute from their first day.
This opportunity provides students with access to industry grade technology used around the world. By applying these tools to real world challenges, they gain hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of how innovation is shaping the way we build, protect, and sustain our communities.
A stronger learning experience and a stronger workforce
For students, the impact is immediate. Consistent access to industry standard tools creates a richer and more immersive learning environment while building lasting confidence.
Through its partnership with BCIT Foundation, Leica has provided BCIT students with access to a suite of software for collection, processing, classification, and presentation of 3-dimensional point cloud data. By learning with the same advanced tools used by professionals, students can apply real world methodologies in both fieldwork and classroom settings. As demand grows for Digital Twins and Building Information Modeling, Leica’s support will help prepare students to meet the evolving needs of the Geomatics, Civil, Structural and Architectural industries.
As Logan McCracken of Leica Geosystems shares, “The students are not just learning concepts. They are working with the same tools they will encounter in the field.”
This kind of experience is increasingly essential. Today’s employers are seeking graduates who can step in and contribute right away, and BCIT students are uniquely prepared to do just that.
Beyond technical expertise, students develop critical thinking, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. They learn to apply technology creatively and effectively, capabilities that are essential in industries where change is constant and innovation drives progress.
Impact that extends beyond the classroom
The impact of this generosity reaches far beyond individual student success. By preparing graduates who are ready to enter the workforce with relevant, industry-ready skills and contribute immediately, this partnership helps strengthen industries, accelerate important projects, and address complex challenges facing our communities.
From advancing construction practices to improving infrastructure, the skills students gain today will directly influence the safety, resilience, and sustainability of both our built and natural environments.
A partnership rooted in shared purpose
This collaboration reflects the power of partnership between education and industry. Together, through the BCIT Foundation, BCIT and its partners are ensuring students graduate with relevant, future focused experience that aligns with real world needs.
As Keith Belsham of Spatial Technologies notes, the shared goal is to ensure students have access to the best tools available, supported by ongoing collaboration, training, and knowledge sharing that bring this technology to life in the classroom.
Opening doors to possibility
Ultimately, this generosity is about more than technology. It is about opportunity.
By equipping students with advanced skills and a broad understanding of how they can be applied, this gift empowers them to explore diverse career paths and approach challenges with creativity and confidence.
The result is a new generation of professionals who are not only workforce ready, but prepared to lead, innovate, and make a meaningful difference while strengthening industries, supporting communities, and shaping a better future for all.