BCIT Adult Education

For more than a century, education has been built on the same essential foundations: English, math, and science. While classrooms and technology have evolved—from chalkboards to digital platforms—the importance of these core skills has not changed. What must evolve is how clearly we connect those foundations to the careers that sustain our communities.

Long before modern classrooms, educators like Socrates and Aristotle understood that learning begins with curiosity. Through questioning, dialogue, and examination, students were encouraged to wonder, analyze, and think critically about the world around them. Those same principles are essential today—especially in Career and Technical Education.

At BCIT, we see this approach in action every day. Electrical students question readings on a multimeter and analyze system performance using math and science. Welding students examine angles, measurements, and materials through applied geometry and physics. Automotive students analyze timing, ratios, and diagnostics. In healthcare programs, students calculate dosages, interpret technical language, and apply scientific reasoning where accuracy truly matters.

Career and Technical Education is not a linear pathway—it is an interconnected system of applied learning. The questioning, problem-solving, and analytical skills developed in one trade transfer across industries and careers. When students are encouraged to ask why and how, they gain adaptability, confidence, and deeper understanding.

The future of education is not about reinventing the wheel, but about returning to its purpose. By integrating foundational academics with hands-on learning and fostering curiosity from the earliest stages of education, we prepare students not just for a job, but for a lifetime of learning and contribution.

At BCIT, we are committed to building this kind of education—one that values inquiry, connects learning to real-world application, and prepares a skilled workforce ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.

- Dr. McAlpin

Published 1/20/26