Portage College is taking the next steps developing the first pipeline training centre in Canada by: analyzing exactly what the industry needs in terms of workforce training and pursuing closer partnerships with other institutions.
Portage College President Dr. Trent Keough said Portage College cannot go it alone.
“Our piece is just one piece of a broader vision … for Alberta’s (pipeline) tTraining iInstitute Who is in charge of Alberta's Training Institute? What is it? ,” he said. “I think that institute will be much like the research and innovation institute that is being heralded by the government right now. It is not a physical place, but it is a very coherent network of collaborating institutions with industry, to ensure that Alberta takes first place in leading in pipelining.”
The college is also seeking industry input.
“We have contracted with an international research firm to do a very detailed analysis of what industry says it wants in terms of training — short-, medium- and long-term — relative to their understanding of new technological innovation, new construction methodology,” said Keough.
“It is one thing for an institution that is not engaged in the industry to say, ‘This is what industry needs’; it is another thing to go out directly to industry and say, ‘Based upon your current labour force demands, based upon the current technology, what are the types and kinds of certifications that you will require? Or what skill sets will you require for the maintenance, operations, emergency response, for the next five to 15 years?’”
Keough explained the college doesn’t want to look too far ahead.
“We do know that professionals become obsolete and have a turnover of once every five years,” he explained. “The job you train for today, because of technological innovation, may in fact not be in place anymore in five years.”
He explained Portage’s research into industry needs could have implications for other provinces.
“Our expectation is the skill snap analysis that we are undertaking for Alberta will be indicative of what might be required in British Columbia or Saskatchewan in the anticipation of new (pipe)lines,” he said.
Portage College is also exploring options afforded by Campus Alberta. Campus Alberta links all publically funded post-secondary institutions and has encouraged collaboration between them since 2002.
“It is about collaborations, innovations, creativity and reduction of costs,” Keough said of Campus Alberta. “It isn’t an entity; it is way of looking at the world.”
In addition, a group being led by Alberta Innovates Technology Solutions and the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association has been working with other jurisdictions across the country to establish a consortium that would look at the nature and demands of the workforce from a Canadian perspective, Keough stated.
“At this point in time, I do believe that we are as well prepared as any province. I think we are ahead of some of the provinces as we are about to look at what they need to do to understand their readiness to engage with the petroleum industry, particularly as it relates to trans-Canada pipelines,” he stated. “I don’t mean the company; I mean pipelines that crisscross the country.”
He explained the recent Keystone pipeline talks have brought attention to the fact that Canada needs a strategy in regards to pipelines.
