SAIT opens TransAlta epiCentre, North America's first electrical power industry training centre
New centre to focus on the looming shortage of skilled workers needed to keep the lights on, homes heated and industry humming
Calgary, Alberta – Officials from SAIT, TransAlta Corporation and other companies from the electrical power industry officially opened the TransAlta Electrical Power Industry Centre (epiCentre) today. The TransAlta epiCentre is the only facility of its kind in North America to focus on training specifically for the electrical power industry.
"The epiCentre is a unique, state of the art training and education facility that will provide much-needed skilled workers to help the electrical power industry remain competitive and capitalize on future growth opportunities," says Irene Lewis, President and CEO of SAIT. "By educating new students and by providing best practices training for those already in the field, the TransAlta epiCentre will create a win-win situation for the electrical power industry, for students, for industry partners and for SAIT."
Students utilizing the new facility receive electrical industry training in conventional and new alternate sources of power through the Power Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology and Industrial Instrumentation Technology programs. In addition to the full-time programs offered through the epiCentre, specialized training can be developed for employees already working in the field and delivered on the job site, on the SAIT campus, or via distance learning.
"Graduates from these programs are entering an exciting time in the electrical power industry," says Mike Williams, Senior VP Human Resources for TransAlta. "With a large amount of current workers in the electrical power industry close to retiring, the development of emerging technologies, and the requirement for employees to continuously upgrade their skills, there is high demand and great opportunities in the industry for skilled workers and for training from such a centre."
In addition to meeting the human capital requirements of the electrical power industry, the TransAlta epiCentre is also quickly becoming a demonstration site for industry to showcase the latest equipment and new technologies including wind power, fuel cell technology, distributed power generation, and more.
The concept behind the TransAlta epiCentre was made possible in September 2001 with a $4.5 million investment from TransAlta. The investment was made to create a Centre of Technology Development at SAIT in which the electrical power industry would partner together with SAIT to address the technical training and applied research requirements facing the industry. The creation of the TransAlta epiCentre is made possible through the joint effort of TransAlta and other industry partners to meet the demand for a trained, skilled workforce. Other partners in the TransAlta epiCentre include Schneider Electric Canada Incorporated, GE Energy Services, SubNet Solutions Incorporated, Mariah Energy Corporation, Dynatrol Systems Incorporated, EECOL Electric, LUTRON, and Benshaw Incorporated. |
