A Unique Partnership Formed to Deliver Important Training
March 31, 2017In response to a labour market need, a unique partnership between Southeast College and SaskPower has been formed. The partnership mutually benefits learners and employers in the province of Saskatchewan through the delivery of a high demand program in an entirely unique setting.
“Opportunities for innovative programming like this are made possible by forming strategic partnerships such as this one with SaskPower,” said Dion McGrath, President and CEO of Southeast College. “Our learners are being provided a very unique opportunity that few others in the province have the ability to experience.”
May of 2015 saw representatives of both the College and SaskPower join together to discuss and assess the validity of offering a full time 4thClass Power Engineering course out of the Poplar River Power Station. The power station is located near the small town of Coronach, Saskatchewan.
SaskPower worked diligently to identify and renovate a designated classroom space inside of their facility that allowed for the instructor and the students to access the main power plant as a “learning lab”. The experience that resulted from the onsite learning lab was more than SaskPower or the College had imagined.
“Students of this program are receiving an enriched learning experience that is beyond our original expectations. The main goal was to reinforce the book and electronic learning with inspection and demonstration of the real processes,” says Ron Powell, 4th Class Power Engineering Instructor. “What has actually transpired is extensive hands on training within the power plant and exposure to a multitude of theory applications.”
Trevor Barrett, Director, Poplar River Power Station had this to say about the partnership – “Poplar River and SaskPower are very excited about our partnership with Southeast College. It not only provides the students an opportunity to start a career in an exciting field but it also gives them immediate and real life exposure to the equipment and facilities they could possibly be working in. It is also an excellent recruitment opportunity for Poplar River and SaskPower to get to know these students and perhaps recruit them for future positions with the company once they have completed their studies.”
The first cohort of twelve students started in Fall 2016, and will complete their course in May 2017. Intake for the next course has begun for Fall 2017. Spots are still available and interested students are encouraged to apply early in order to avoid disappointment.
Southeast College is proud to offer innovative and flexible programming that encourages students to learn where they live.
For more information about this release, please contact:
Sheena Onrait
Manager, Marketing and Communications
306-637-6101
sonrait@southeastcollege.org