A new elective component of Lakeland College’s process and power engineering program (PPE) is giving graduates an edge when it comes to the job market.

Process and power engineering students at the Energy Centre“As part of our continued growth and student success, we have incorporated second year electives, chosen by the student, into our PPE diploma program,” says Simon Stilgoe, department chair for the School of Energy. “For the inaugural year of offering these electives, our students unanimously chose the gas process operator (GPO) elective. They were able to graduate with both their PPE diploma, and an industry-recognized GPO certificate, expanding their career opportunities.”

The students achieved a 100 per cent success rate on the GPO program.

The elective component integrates with Lakeland’s continuing education department, which provides a host of energy courses each year. Students are given the opportunity to choose two courses in their second year, with options including:

  • Basic energy principles
  • Facility power, control and environment
  • Field and facility operations
  • Gas separation, dehydration and sweetening
  • Heavy oil production and upstream oil and gas facilities
  • Heavy oil upgrading and process optimization
  • Introduction to wind energy
  • Introduction to solar energy
  • Introduction to biofuels.
  • Oil and gas process facilities
  • Oil, exploration, and drilling and completions
  • SAGD operations

“Students in our PPE program already benefit from training in our state-of-the-art energy labs, steam time and practicum placements,” Stilgoe explains. “Their continued success on the ABSA exams are proof that a Lakeland education already gives them a boost when it comes to their power engineering careers. By offering them the opportunity to customize their education to suite their career goals, we are giving them another edge to stay competitive after graduation.”

PPE students were once again incredibly successful on their ABSA exams, with the following results:

  • 4th Class Part A: 100% success
  • 4th Class Part B: 100% success
  • 3rd Class A1: 97% success
  • 3rd Class A2: 87% success
  • 3rd Class B1: 97% success
  • 3rd Class B2: 93% success 

 

Photo: The second-year process and power engineering students who are graduating with a diploma plus a gas process operator certificate thanks to elective options.