$25,000 from ADM to help develop second class power engineering training

Lakeland's goal to increase training opportunities for more qualified power engineers in the Alberta/Saskatchewan region received a boost from Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to the tune of $25,680.

The money will go towards the course creation and curriculum development of a blended program (online delivery combined with classroom and hands-on training opportunities) in second class power engineering.

The donation was made available through ADM Cares, ADM’s corporate social investment program. The program directs a portion of pretax profits to initiatives and organizations around the world that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress.

“We look forward to building our relationship with ADM into the next century as we share common goals and interests in agriculture practices and education,” says Brunetta Mariani, manager, grants and foundations at the college.

Kara Johnston, Lakeland’s director of energy, entrepreneurship and Saskatchewan programming, says ADM’s donation fits in well with Lakeland’s drive to develop a power engineering/oil and gas training facility and program opportunities at the Lloydminster campus. A new second class power engineering program available in the area would help many people be successful to advance their skills and qualifications without the expense of having to relocate or commute to a larger centre.

“A new second class power engineering program would be part of programming available from Lakeland College, a long-time training provider serving the Alberta/Saskatchewan region, that would train an additional 80 students over four intakes of students per year,” says Johnston. “It would be an excellent addition to our current program offerings aimed to serve several vital industries within our geographic area.”

A new and modern power engineering lab and facility, also part of the college’s campaign to increase training opportunities would enable the college to increase seat numbers in its over-subscribed heavy oil operations technician (HOOT) program and transition its current one-year certificate HOOT program to a two-year program.

The facility will also enable Lakeland to offer more customized oil and gas programming including petroleum management training and short-term, just-in-time courses to address specific industry needs.

Lakeland currently offers numerous programs and courses relevant to the oil and gas industry including HOOT, gas process operator, fourth-class power engineering, pressure truck operator, vacuum truck operator, and electrician, instrument technician, steamfitter-pipefitter, and welding pre-employment programs and apprenticeship training. Lakeland College also works with a consortium of oil and gas companies to offer one of the largest petroleum industry certification programs in Canada.

Photo: Lakeland heavy oil and operations technician (HOOT) students joined ADM's Mike Deck (far left) and Lakeland's Kara Johnston (far right) during a cheque presentation.