Columbia College and Quest University Announce Groundbreaking Partnership

Columbia College and Quest University Canada have revealed plans to merge and establish a new university in British Columbia, marking a significant development in the province's higher education landscape. Announced on March 5, 2026, this strategic collaboration aims to create an innovative institution focused on addressing B.C.'s evolving workforce needs through targeted programs. The proposal, detailed in a joint news release, highlights the new university's commitment to small class sizes, personalized learning, and practical education pathways.

This partnership comes at a pivotal time for post-secondary education in Canada, where institutions are navigating financial pressures and shifting enrollment patterns. By combining Columbia College's established infrastructure in Vancouver with Quest University's acclaimed liberal arts model, the new entity promises to offer accessible, high-quality degrees to domestic students primarily.

Understanding the Institutions Involved

Columbia College, founded in 1936 as an independent not-for-profit post-secondary institution, has long served as a stepping stone for students pursuing university degrees. Located in downtown Vancouver, it offers university transfer programs, associate degrees, high school completion, and English for Academic Purposes courses. Its programs are approved under the BC Transfer System, ensuring seamless credit transfers to major universities like the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. With a diverse student body from over 60 countries and three intakes per year, Columbia College emphasizes supportive pathways and small classes.

Quest University Canada, established in 2007 in Squamish, B.C., was Canada's pioneering private, secular liberal arts and sciences university. It grew from 73 students to around 700 by 2017 but suspended academic operations at the end of the 2022/23 year due to mounting financial challenges, including high debt and reliance on tuition without government funding. Despite closure, Quest retained its board and president, Arthur Coren, and continued select courses while planning a rebuild. Notably, its campus was sold to Capilano University in 2023 for $63.2 million, which now operates a new Squamish site.

The synergy between these two lies in their shared not-for-profit status and dedication to student-centered education. Columbia provides operational stability, while Quest brings intellectual rigor and innovation.

Core Programs of the Proposed New University

The inaugural offerings include a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, echoing Quest's signature multidisciplinary program. This features a two-year foundation phase covering core courses like Cornerstone and Rhetoric, followed by a self-authored concentration where students craft a personal 'Question' guiding their studies, culminating in a Keystone project—such as a research paper or creative installation.

Complementing this are Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees for foundational studies, plus specialized allied health programs tailored to B.C.'s healthcare demands. Allied health professionals, including medical laboratory technologists, respiratory therapists, and diagnostic sonographers, play crucial roles in patient care outside physicians and nurses.

The curriculum will retain elements of Quest's renowned block plan: students focus on one course at a time over 3.5 weeks, enabling deep immersion, field studies, and experiential learning blocks in sectors like non-profits or government. Classes remain seminar-style, capped at 20 students, fostering close faculty-student relationships.

Strategic Shift to Vancouver and Domestic Focus

Unlike Quest's scenic hilltop campus in Squamish, the new university will operate from Columbia College's downtown Vancouver location, enhancing accessibility for urban learners and commuters. This move also sidesteps the former site's repurposing by Capilano University.

A key pivot is targeting domestic students amid federal caps on international study permits. In 2026, B.C. receives about 24,786 permits, a sharp reduction contributing to enrollment drops of up to 60% at some colleges. Institutions like Kwantlen Polytechnic and Algonquin College have faced layoffs and program suspensions, prompting a reevaluation of business models reliant on international tuition.

"This partnership represents a strategic step forward, better positioning ourselves to expand access to programs that respond to the province’s evolving skills and workforce needs," stated Arthur Coren, Quest's president.

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Addressing B.C.'s Allied Health Shortages

British Columbia faces acute shortages in allied health roles, exacerbated by an aging population and post-pandemic burnout. Over 52.5% of nurse and allied health vacancies remain unfilled, with medical imaging and radiation therapy particularly strained, leading to extended wait times. The province registered 5,200 new nurses in 2024, but demand persists, prompting recruitment of over 1,000 U.S.-trained nurses since 2025.

The new university's allied health programs aim to bridge this gap by training professionals for roles like medical radiation technologists and clinical lab assistants. These step-by-step pathways—starting with associate degrees and progressing to bachelor's—provide concrete skills through hands-on training and industry partnerships.

• Medical Laboratory Technologists: Analyze samples for diagnostics.
• Respiratory Therapists: Manage breathing disorders.
• Dietitians: Develop nutrition plans.

By focusing here, the institution aligns with provincial priorities for workforce development.

Navigating B.C.'s Higher Education Challenges

British Columbia's post-secondary sector grapples with stagnant funding, rising costs, and international enrollment cliffs. The 2026 budget offers modest increases but falls short amid crises, with 50+ institutions at risk of deficits. Protests highlight tuition hikes and proposed mergers, as seen in New Brunswick restructurings.

Private institutions like Columbia must secure ministerial consent under the Degree Authorization Act for new degrees. This involves rigorous quality assessments by the Degree Quality Assessment Board, ensuring program viability, faculty credentials, and student outcomes.

Partnerships like this reflect a trend toward consolidation for sustainability, similar to global higher ed mergers addressing enrollment declines.

Regulatory Path and Timeline Ahead

The proposal awaits review by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. If approved swiftly, classes could commence this fall 2026. A new name—distinct from 'Quest' to shed closure baggage—will be unveiled soon.

Matt Wadsworth, Columbia College's principal, emphasized: "The new university will prepare the next generation of graduates for meaningful careers," leveraging combined strengths in curriculum and faculty expertise.

Benefits for Students and the Community

For students, the model offers flexibility and depth: block learning suits working adults or those with families, while self-designed degrees foster critical thinking. Vancouver's location provides urban amenities and job proximity.

Communities gain from workforce-ready graduates filling allied health gaps and liberal arts thinkers driving innovation. Squamish benefits indirectly through preserved Quest legacy, despite the campus shift.

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Future Outlook and Broader Implications

If successful, this could inspire more B.C. collaborations amid fiscal strains. Comparisons to Colorado College's block plan highlight proven efficacy in engagement and retention.

Challenges include approval uncertainties and competition from public universities, but optimism prevails for revitalizing private higher ed.

Stakeholders urge support for such innovations to meet Canada's talent needs. For career advice, visit higher ed career advice.