Young Manitobans who want to work as engineers will soon have more opportunities to enter the faculty of engineering thanks to $500,000 in new funding from the province that will create 18 new seats and a new hybrid pathway between the University of Manitoba and Red River College, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“Civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineers are in demand in our province and increasing the number of engineering graduates is necessary to create more good jobs and keep our economy growing,” Premier Selinger said.

The University of Manitoba (U of M) is the only institution in the province to offer accredited engineering degrees and the current seat capacity in the program is 336.

“The faculty of engineering at the University of Manitoba is in high-demand – attracting the best and brightest students from Manitoba and beyond,” said Dr. David T. Barnard, president and vice-chancellor.  “This investment ultimately will enable us to graduate more engineers, responding to a real and pressing need in our province.”

Undergraduate engineering enrolment has increased by 48 per cent at the U of M since 2008, Barnard noted.

The new hybrid engineering pathway will be introduced over several academic years through collaborative efforts between the University of Manitoba and Red River College (RRC), supporting increased credit transfer and recognition of prior experience for hybrid engineering students.

“Red River College is proud of the quality of its graduates and we welcome opportunities for them to further their education as a result of this pathway program with the University of Manitoba,” said Paul Vogt, president and CEO, Red River College.  “When you combine the experience our students receive from both institutions, it’s a recipe for success that will have a considerable benefit to many industries here in Manitoba.”

Once fully established, this new hybrid pathway will transition between 10 and 15 hybrid engineering students annually from RRC and other post-secondary institutions to U of M engineering degree programs.

“Engineers provide services that drive our economy,” said John Bockstael, president and CEO, Bockstael Construction, and graduate of the faculty of engineering at the University of Manitoba.  “It’s important that we provide opportunities for our students to receive a first-rate education in their home province where they can then build careers and contribute to our economy.”

Over the past 15 years, enrolment in Manitoba universities has grown 42 per cent overall, the premier said, adding enrolment in colleges has grown 52 per cent and apprenticeship placements have more than tripled.

Both of the initiatives build on the province’s commitment to provide more seamless pathways to career opportunities for Manitoba students and prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow including:

• working with schools, colleges and universities to ensure there are no wrong doors in education and a seamless transition between high school and post-secondary education;
• investing in shops classes and equipment so that students taking high school shops programs get their apprenticeship-certified first year of college instructions for free while still in high school;
• investing in dual-credit programs so students earn both high school and university credits in high school to get a head start on university; and
• hiring career development co-ordinators to work with schools, colleges and universities to help students find co-op and job opportunities while in high school.

Read the full story on the RED Blog