Royal Roads “pops up” in Langford

The Old Fire Hall in Langford was transformed into a classroom so high school students could experience life as undergraduates for a day Nov. 15.

Royal Roads’ pop up university, which was in collaboration with the City of Langford and School District 62, focused on challenge-based learning with community impact. Students from Belmont Secondary, Royal Bay Secondary and Edward Milne Community School were asked to develop solutions to a significant local problem: how to communicate with residents in wildfire interface areas.

“The event really highlights Royal Roads’ unique role as a bridge between students and the community, between innovation and real-world application,” says Vice-President Academic and Provost Steve Grundy.

Students were led through a design thinking process by School of Business faculty members and had access to professionals from the City of Langford, Langford Fire and Rescue, and FTS, a Langford-based environmental monitoring business.

The students’ solutions will be used in future city planning.