In recent months, several Canadian colleges and universities have announced cuts to geospatial and geomatics programs, reflecting ongoing pressure on post-secondary institutions to make difficult decisions in response to shifting enrollment patterns and limited funding. Among the most recent is the potential pause of the Surveying and Geospatial Engineering Technology diploma at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), now delayed until Fall 2026.

NAIT’s program is not alone in facing uncertainty. In 2024, Fleming College and Vancouver Island University ended their GIS programs. Mohawk College has announced that its GIS certificate will stop taking new students next year. At Fanshawe College, a broader restructuring has resulted in the suspension of 40 programs, including those in BIM and Integrated Practice. Other institutions, including Niagara College and York University, have also exited the space in recent years.

While these changes vary in scope and cause, they point to a broader trend: fewer Canadian students are entering geospatial education, and many programs have become increasingly dependent on international enrollment to remain viable. As a result, schools are being forced to weigh the long-term value of niche technical programs against short-term fiscal realities.

To understand the impact of these shifts, and what it could mean for the future of the profession, we spoke with Patrick Whitehead, Chair of the Surveying and Geospatial Engineering Technology program at NAIT. Patrick shares his perspective on what led to the proposed pause, the challenges in attracting new students, and the role industry must play to support and promote the next generation of geospatial professionals.

NAIT has decided to pause two programs in the School of Construction and Building Sciences, including the Surveying and Geospatial Engineering Technology diploma. Could you provide more details on what led to this decision and how it reflects the current challenges facing post-secondary technical programs in Canada?

We are currently in a potential pause situation, and the leading factor in NAIT’s decision was the low enrollment that the program has had. Since the pandemic, student numbers have been steadily increasing, and we are now almost at full capacity. Because NAIT has seen the work we have put into increasing student numbers, they have delayed the potential program pause until Fall 2026. Post-secondary institutions are facing decreased or stagnant funding from the government, which forces them to examine programs that may not meet all of the institution’s requirements. In our case, lower enrollment. I’m confident that we will reach our quota of 32 students for this fall.

There are other programs being paused as well. While these aren’t directly geospatial, they are closely tied to industries that heavily rely on geospatial expertise. How do you see the closure of these programs affecting the geospatial sector, especially as these industries continue to grow and intersect with geospatial technologies?

It will be very tough for industries that rely on survey or geomatic technologists to find the right people. Our industry intersects with numerous other sectors, and with the increasing use of drones, LiDAR scanners and other new tech, this intersection will only continue to grow.

There are reports of similar programs closing across the country, which coincides with the federal government’s push to fast-track large-scale infrastructure projects. How do you see the closure of these programs impacting Canada’s ability to meet the growing demand for skilled geospatial professionals in these critical projects?

Canada won’t be able to meet the demand for skilled geospatial professionals. The industry will struggle to find qualified people to complete the work. There always needs to be boots on the ground, and that is what our graduates provide to the industry. You need people to collect and analyze the data, and if you’re not doing that, then nothing is getting completed.

Every time a program closes, the talent pool from which companies can choose becomes smaller, and demand continues to increase. There will be a critical point at which the industry needs to step in and let schools know that these programs must remain, and this might be it.

The reasons cited for the closure include rising cost pressures and declining international student enrolment. However, the industry is reporting a shortage of skilled professionals, particularly as Canada’s infrastructure needs grow. Why do you think there has been a decline in student interest in these programs?

From what I have seen, the public is largely unaware of what we do or who we are. The public sees the person looking through the instrument; that’s it. We have been known as not a flashy industry, and we need to market ourselves as such, showcasing the very cool things we do. Start in junior high schools and high schools, and sell the industry as a great career choice for many people. Most of my students are in the program because they know someone who has worked in the industry before, not because they discovered it at a career fair.

This highlights a broader issue: a significant communication and awareness gap between the geospatial profession and the general public. Do you think the geospatial/geomatics industry and institutions have a broader communication problem?

I believe that institutions are there to instruct and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in the industry. NAIT markets the program and what we can provide to potential students. We promote the program and surveying as a career by travelling to high schools and offer student engagement dates to high schools to come and survey for the day. The survey industry and governing bodies of the surveying and geomatics industry should be the ones that market the industry and career potentials. There needs to be more public awareness of geomatics, surveying and the geospatial career path. How to do that? Probably multiple ways but to start is to reach out to math and physics classes in high schools and show students what we do and the great potential in this field.

I am not sure there is a disconnect between schools and the increasing workforce. I believe schools recognize the need for a growing workforce, but for them, it’s a business decision, and this is a program that’s often the first to be cut. If we can grow the program and offer 40 graduates who have a career after, we would do it, but the student interest is not there to support that.

Do you see the closure of these programs as a temporary measure? As the government continues to prioritize infrastructure, do you foresee a rethinking of these programs to meet the growing industry needs?

Any program that has closed in Canada, I haven’t seen come back. Schools might offer revamped diploma programs or partial programs as a certificate. However, the industry needs to communicate to post-secondary institutions that these programs are required. Creating a new program can take years to implement, and workers are needed now and in the future. Industry needs to make some noise.

What role do you believe industry partnerships should play in supporting the future of geospatial education, especially in light of these program closures?

With cost-cutting measures in most post-secondary institutions, I believe the industries will need to contribute to student costs, including donations and marketing efforts. And market the survey and the geospatial industry to junior and high schools. This is the future of the industry, and we need to reach out to the young minds. Show them what they can do.