The Owen Sound Campus of Georgian College continues to expand and grow with the addition of a new two-year Power Engineering Technician co-op program slated to start next September. This program is designed for individuals seeking employment as power engineering technicians.

Power engineering technicians operate and troubleshoot energy components in a wide range of environments such as electrical power generation facilities, industrial power plants, hospitals/commercial buildings, and alternative power generation facilities.

“We are proud to offer this new program in a field that offers well-paying and in-demand jobs,” says Donna Jansen, Associate Dean, Owen Sound Campus. “The program is a perfect fit for the Campus, given our proximity to several electrical power plants across southern Ontario and the rapid expansion of alternative power generation sites.”

Power Engineering Technician students will train on the state-of-the-art power systems control room simulator, which is part of the $8-million Great Lakes International Marine Training Centre. Using this technology in combination with other hands-on learning will help prepare students to write Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) examinations for third- and fourth-class certification after two years as operators.

The addition of this program means 14 full-time programs will be offered at the Owen Sound Campus in September 2010. The Campus experienced unprecedented growth this fall with a 48 per cent increase in first-year enrolment compared to last year, partly due to the addition of a one-year Welding Techniques program and improvements made to the 20,000-sq.-ft. marine training centre.

For more information on programs offered at the Owen Sound Campus, visit http://www.georgianc.on.ca/campuses/owensound/contact.php.