SIAST gets $1.125 million boost from Husky Energy

Innovative partnership helping to build skilled trades capacity

SASKATOON, Nov. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) announced it has received a $1.125 million donation from Husky Energy to support the Power Engineering program at its Saskatoon campus.

Two-thirds of the donation will support upgrades to the Power Engineering Technology lab. The remaining third will be dedicated to scholarships for students seeking to obtain their third class power engineering certification. The scholarship recipients will be offered employment opportunities with Husky after graduation.

"We have a long history in the province of Saskatchewan and are making significant investments to grow our business," said Husky CEO Asim Ghosh. "Developing skilled trades capacity in Canada is critical and this new partnership is one of the many initiatives we are advancing to meet that challenge."

With its current equipment, SIAST must suspend training over the summer because there is no place to put the energy generated by the lab's boilers. As a result of the renovations, SIAST will be able to run its Power Engineering lab year-round and increase lab capacity by 25 percent to almost 200 students annually.

"Power engineers are in high demand across a number of industries, and we have been running shifts to meet demand," said Dr. Larry Rosia, SIAST's president and CEO. "Husky's generosity will further increase our capacity for training by allowing us to operate 12 months a year. I applaud Husky's commitment to helping build tomorrow's workforce by partnering with SIAST."

The scholarship portion of the donation is being matched by the Saskatchewan Innovation Opportunity Scholarship Program, offered by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education. As a result, up to 10 scholarships will be available per academic year over the next five years.

"The Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship supports students working in new and emerging fields of study," said Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris. "Husky's support will certainly assist Saskatchewan students in reaching their career goals in a growing economy."   

SIAST is Saskatchewan's primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training. A member of Polytechnics Canada, SIAST offers apprenticeship training and certificate, diploma and degree programs. The institution serves 26,000 distinct students through campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities.

Image with caption: "SIAST gets $1.125 million boost from Husky Energy (CNW Group/Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131120_C9090_PHOTO_EN_33602.jpg

SOURCE: Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST)

For further information:

SIAST
Adam Lehmann
SIAST Communications & Marketing
Office: 306.691.8513
Cell: 306.630.9968
Email: [email protected]

Information about SIAST can be found at www.goSIAST.com.