Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk met with students at the University of Victoria during a tour of the faculty of engineering where he was joined by representatives of the metal and mining industry from Rio Tinto Alcan.

“I was encouraged to hear the passion, enthusiasm and ideas from the engineering students at UVic,” said Virk. “Aligning student training to match the skills and competencies required by employers such as Rio Tinto Alcan will help students make the transition from learning to earning.”

B.C. is projecting one million job openings by 2020 and more than three-quarters of those jobs will require post-secondary education. Professional, scientific and technical occupations are expected to continue to be among the most in-demand.

“The employment opportunities for engineers and computer scientists in B.C. are driving strong enrolment growth in the faculty of engineering at the University of Victoria,” said Thomas Tiedje, dean of the faculty of engineering. “Both employers and students appreciate the co-op component at UVic that provides experiential learning, equipping our graduates with valuable work experience and contacts.”

The meeting, hosted by UVic, was an opportunity for government and students to learn about Rio Tinto Alcan’s Kitimat Modernization Project and discuss future career opportunities.

“It’s a pleasure for me to visit the engineering faculty at University of Victoria,” said Gaby Poirier, general manager, B.C. operations at Rio Tinto Alcan. “As we complete the modernization of our 60 year old aluminium smelter operation in B.C., it is very important that we let future engineers know that Rio Tinto Alcan can offer tremendous career opportunities to young professionals.”

One of the engineering students on hand for today’s visit has already had some very real involvement in the sector.

"Working in mining has given me invaluable experiences - hands on, in the field and with people of different trades,” said Tiffany Yu, a co-op student in electrical engineering.

"My university studies at UVic, combined with the work experience, has given me a great career advantage when applying for jobs in the resources, consulting and industrial sectors."

Engineering is expected to be one of the in-demand careers that require post-secondary education. The University of Victoria’s faculty of engineering offers a range of undergraduate engineering programs, including mechanical, civil, electrical, computer and bio-engineering, as well as graduate studies, leading to a wide variety of career paths.

Learn More:

Engineering faculty at UVic: www.uvic.ca/engineering

Rio Tinto Alcan: www.riotintoalcan.com

Media Contacts:

Scott Sutherland
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400