Ten students from the Electrician Applied Certificate program graduate on Thursday from Cumberland College in Nipawin, bringing the total number of students to 18 for 2015. The 20 week program will wrap up on June 23 followed by six safety training courses to enhance their employability skills.
The Electrician Applied Certificate program, funded by International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMI),provides entry-level skills training need to work in residential and commercial construction and prepare them for work in Saskatchewan’s minerals industry. Eight of the 18 students have already confirmed employment.
The electrician program is part of a multi-year agreement signed last September between Cumberland College and International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII). The College will also be offering the Applied Certificate in Industrial Mechanics program through the funding. Safety Training courses are being offered at the end of each program as an enhancement to help students become more employable, particularly in the mining sector. The goal of the partnership is to add 60 electrical and 36 industrial mechanics apprentices into the Saskatchewan workforce over the next five years.
Mining is a vital, growing component of Saskatchewan’s economy as well as Canada’s economy. But like many economic sectors across the country, the growth of the province’s mining industry is threatened by human resources challenges. There is a need to educate individuals to the many mining careers that are available. Additionally, proper training is required to prepare individuals for entry level jobs to skilled and professional jobs available through the mining cycles.
The project is one of eight being rolled by IMII with a focus on safety, environment, and skills development specialized training programs on behalf of the mining industry.
