Alberta alliance promotes civil engineering careers

EDMONTON — Alberta’s road-builders and the provincial government will promote careers in highway construction under the Joint Workforce Development Initiative announced last week.

The program will focus on enticing engineering and engineering technology students to the industry.

It was formalized in the Alberta Highways Workforce Development Partnering Charter, which was signed by representatives of the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association, the Consulting Engineers of Alberta, and Alberta Minister of Transportation and Utilities Walter Paszkowski.

In signing the charter, the three parties agree to promote work experience programs for students in post-secondary civil engineering and engineering technology programs; create a mentorship and career awareness program; and find ways to forecast employment needs in highway construction.

Initially, six engineering students from the University of Alberta and three from the University of Calgary will be hired at highway construction and engineering firms beginning next summer.