Government of Canada Supports University-Industry Partnerships to Train Science, Engineering Graduate Students in Ontario

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 4, 2014) -

Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced today a significant investment in job-related training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at five Ontario institutions. The six research teams will develop training programs in a wide variety of fields, including natural resource management, conservation, and information technologies. The programs will provide young researchers with training opportunities that will help them to make the transition from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce.

The funding comes from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through its Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) initiative. CREATE provides leading research teams in the natural sciences and engineering with the resources to implement an applied training environment that combines research knowledge and experience with the personal and professional skills needed in industry or government workplaces.

Quick Facts

• NSERC is awarding $9.8 million for six training programs that will help graduate students acquire the skills they need for new careers in Canadian industries.
  
  
• Training programs are led by researchers who champion a teaching agenda that includes the personal and professional skills development necessary to succeed in the world outside academia.
  
  
• CREATE emphasizes four priority areas:
  
  
  • Environmental science and technologies;
    
    
  • Manufacturing;
    
    
  • Information and communications technologies; and
    
    
  • Natural resources and energy.
    
    
• CREATE recipients will receive support from industry to ensure science and engineering graduate students receive hands-on training in industries related to their fields of study. Industry partners will provide students with a four-month internship that includes job shadowing and industry seminars.
  
  

Quotes

"Science can increase prosperity and improve the quality of life of Canadians. Through the CREATE program, our government is encouraging university-industry partnerships to ensure science and engineering graduate students receive hands-on training in manufacturing, environmental science, natural resources and energy, information, and communications technologies. As a result, graduate students will be better prepared to hit the ground running in exciting, innovative industries."

The Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology)

"Our greatest asset for ensuring our future prosperity is our highly trained talent. CREATE's team-based approach to training provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with access to the knowledge and expertise of some of Canada's top researchers. At the same time, it provides them with important experiential learning opportunities. This strong combination readies our next generation for success as they embark on their professional careers."

Janet Walden, Chief Operating Officer, NSERC

Associated Links

The list of the 2014 CREATE grant recipients

More information on the CREATE program

About NSERC

NSERC is the primary funding agency supporting Canada's science and engineering research community. The agency supports almost 30,000 post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding approximately 12,000 professors every year and fosters innovation by working with over 2,800 Canadian companies that are participating and investing in post-secondary research projects.

Follow us on Twitter: @NSERC_CRSNG