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Educational partnership

Water resource science students are already high in demand. Four years from now they’ll be infinitely more employable, thanks to the integration of degree and diploma programs at Lakehead University and Confederation College.
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Fred Gilbert, Lakehead University presdient, and Pat Lang, Confederation College president. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com)
Water resource science students are already high in demand.

Four years from now they’ll be infinitely more employable, thanks to the integration of degree and diploma programs at Lakehead University and Confederation College.

The decision, announced on Thursday, gives students hands-on experience for one year at the college, sandwiched between three years of applied science and theory at the university. It’s the best of both worlds, said LU president Fred Gilbert.

"What this does is position them very clearly for certification in water treatment plants. It provides them with the opportunity to step through the doors of industry, of government agencies and wind up being employed," Gilbert said. "And we expect 100 per cent success in finding employment for our graduates."

The one-year Confederation College portion of the four-year program offers students access to state of the art equipment, like a scaled-down version of Thunder Bay’s water treatment plant. During their year at the college, they also learn hands-on field sampling techniques. At the university, in years three and four, they take upper level science courses and undergo comprehensive scientific study in the form of an honours thesis.

Recent Lakehead graduate Sarah Cockerton, who works for Matawa First Nation, said broad-based training will help students in a wide range of ways.

"You can’t just focus on a single part of (water)," she said. "It’s a big-picture item. So having more knowledge of the big picture and all these different educational angles will be an advantage to a student being successful in the workplace."

It’s also beneficial to the public, she said.

Water has made headlines in recent years, starting a decade ago in Walkerton, where seven people died and 2,500 got sick from E. coli poisoning. It’s in the news again thanks to the massive oil spill off the coast of Louisiana, which is threatening fisheries and shorelines of southern U.S. states.

Water shortages are predicted in the future, and at least one well-known columnist, Gynne Dyer, has said water wars may be inevitable.

"Water is a critical resource," Cockerton said. "We can’t live without it and educating people in water is a benefit to everyone."

Gilbert was even more succinct.

"This is going to become an issue that ultimately will divide nations," Gilbert said. "It’s going to be the most precious commodity that we’re dealing with; right now gold seems to be important, but water is the future gold. You can’t grow crops, you can’t survive without good, clean sources of water.

"And right now Canada is fortunate in terms of the extent of the resources, but we have to manage those effectively and the students that will be graduating from this program will have all of the credentials to be able to do that."

College president Pat Lang, who related they wanted a graduate to speak Tuesday, but none were available due to work commitments in their field, called the merger a win-win situation.

"It is a perfect example of building on the synergy and expertise of both institutions and building pathways for students," Lang said. It’s also what the students want, she added. "The concept of integrated programs is becoming increasingly popular and is more in demand," she said.

Graduating students will receive an honours bachelor’s degree in water resource science from the university and an environmental technician diploma from the college. The dual recognition will allow them to write exams to be eligible for the water and wastewater operator-in-training and entry-level drinking water operator certifications from the province.


Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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