Joyce Paul: Outstanding at Planning & Research

“I hope I’m making their lives easier.”

As Northwestern Polytechnic’s Manager of Institutional Planning and Research, Joyce Paul’s job is to provide data that helps NWP grow and succeed.

“I make sense of numbers for leadership,” he explains. “They depend on data for decisions. I brought in processes to make it easier for everyone.”

Joyce’s work is clearly adding up. He is a recipient of NWP’s 2026 Outstanding Staff Award, presented each year to recognize those who demonstrate excellence and dedication. Joyce also received the award in 2024.

“It means a lot. Appreciation matters and hearing that my work is useful matters,” says Joyce about the recognition. “Especially when you’re doing a job you like, it’s good to know that it has meaning.”

Joyce moved to Canada from India in 2021 and started his career in Toronto before relocating to Grande Prairie in 2022. He began with NWP as a research analyst before stepping into his current role. While research analysts can work in any sector, Joyce explains that he wanted to apply his skills to Education.

“Both my parents were teachers,” he notes. “And my favourite subject was math. This was the perfect intersection, to use math and improve the education sector. It came naturally to me.”

Joyce is enthusiastic when describing the impact of his team’s work on NWP. “Every decision taken by leadership needs data to back it,” he points out. “That’s exactly where we come into play.” NWP’s new Skilled Trades Training Centre is a textbook example, he says. “NWP had to provide evidence of need – that was the starting point.” Joyce and his team were able to provide data showing demand by both students and employers, allowing NWP to build their case and make the flagship facility a reality.

When Joyce talks about his work, it’s clear that his focus is on more than facts and figures – it’s on making life easier for his colleagues. He describes creating a new report for department chairs to simplify a difficult process. “It gives a clear picture. I believe it helps them immensely in making decisions,” he says. 

When asked about a highlight of his time here, Joyce is quick to point to the attitudes of NWP’s leadership team. “They reach out to me. They keep me involved,” he says appreciatively. Since his first days on the job, Joyce noticed that even when he was the most junior person in the room, his experience was valued. 

“Here, I matter, and my opinions matter. That’s the best thing an employer can do.”

Joyce also appreciates the lifestyle that Grande Prairie has to offer. “Grande Prairie is better than Toronto for growing a family and settling down. It gives me a lot of peace,” he says. He and his wife (also an NWP employee) did have to make some adjustments to the city’s northern latitude. Summer’s long hours of sunlight played havoc with their sleep cycle at first, while the wild temperature swings took some getting used to. Joyce was also awestruck at the size of stores compared to Toronto. “Walmart is so huge!” he laughs. “Everything is bigger.”

Joyce is contemplating adding a PhD in research, evaluation, statistics and assessment to his many accomplishments. It’s clear that he loves his field and the value it offers, while NWP appreciates the skill, thoughtfulness and dedication Joyce brings to the job. The data is clear: Joyce’s achievements deserve our recognition.