Highlights from 2024

As we look back at just some of the many stories we featured in 2024, we recognize the strength, resilience and adaptability of our community. This review highlights a few of the moments, milestones and people who defined our year and continue to make us #SenecaProud.

Our grads

In 2024, we proudly graduated 18,000 students and held 17 ceremonies, with thousands of families and friends attending either in person or virtually.

Initiatives and partnerships

People sitting together at The Service Hub

New offerings: Seneca Polytechnic launched its first three-year bachelor’s degree programs ever and also introduced two new diploma programs.

Kent and Panos

Leading on AI: Professors Panos Panagiotakopoulos and Kent Peel were appointed as Seneca’s first AI Thought Leaders. Seneca Works also introduced Generative AI-powered projects to support work-integrated learning and our partnership with Microsoft Azure AI has supported initiatives such as InStage.

Seneca students with a camera

Focus on careers: New partnerships that support the career-readiness of our grads include an apprenticeship program with Zurich Canada for students in the Business – Insurance program; a three-year agreement with POV Film to train aspiring creative professionals; and an extension of our partnership with TD Bank to support Career Recharge until November 2027. 

Recognition for Seneca

A great education

  • Nine Seneca students medalled at the 2024 Skills Ontario Competition
  • Seneca earned two Colleges and Institutes Canada Awards of Excellence, including gold in the Indigenous Education category and silver in the Global Engagement category
  • Seneca now has the highest number of wins among postsecondary institutions in the HR Professionals Association provincial case competition after students from several Seneca Business programs earned first and third place positions in 2024

Research and innovation

  • Seneca earned its first gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements as part of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System
  • Three projects from the Seneca Centre for Health and Social Innovation received nearly $1.2 million from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
  • A $30,000 Wawanesa Climate Champions: Youth Innovation Grant was awarded to help researchers explore how agriculture tech can reduce carbon emissions 
  • A collaboration with BFI Energy Group is helping researchers and students in the Honours Data Science and Analytics program to develop a tool that can identify natural resources
  • A partnership with Gartner allows students and employees to access a global database of research, reports and webinars  

A top employee experience

 

Students and faculty shine bright

Dozens of Seneca students and graduates received awards for exemplary contributions to their fields. Some highlights include:

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Seneca faculty members also accomplished a lot, including: 

  • An Oscar nomination for Pranay Nichani, a Seneca graduate and a professor in the School of Creative Arts & Animation  
  • A GTA Public Heroes Award for Melissa Thomas, Professor, Faculty of Continuing Education and Inspector with Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services  
  • A Spotlight Award by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers for Derek Gruchy, Professor, School of Fire Protection Engineering Technology 
  • A legislative win for Kirsti Clarida, Professor, School of Health Sciences and former president of the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians, who long advocated for improvements to veterinary care 

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Giving back

The Seneca community raised more than $390,000 for student financial assistance through the 2023-24 Campaign for Students and more than $110,000 for United Way Greater Toronto.

We hope you enjoyed these highlights from a year full of innovation and accolades. Explore more 2024 achievements in MyNews and continue to read MySeneca for great new stories in the year ahead.