Siemens launching mechatronics program at Ont. colleges
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
The goal is to provide companies and industries with skilled technical workers while drawing on local education and training resources
OAKVILLE, Ont.—Siemens Canada has signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Seneca College and Sheridan College to set up special certificate programs focusing on mechatronics instruction.
Mechatronics is the integration of mechanics, electronics, control and systems theory, and computers into a single system used within production and manufacturing to optimize its efficiency, productivity, and quality.
The Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program is a comprehensive industry skills certification offered together with partner schools worldwide and uses a special set of teaching and learning methods developed over 25 years in Siemens technical schools in Germany.
Mechatronics-related technical fields include Automation Technology, Robotics Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Process and Controls and Electro-Mechanical Technology. The focus of Siemens’ Mechatronics certification program specialized technical content is to provide a wide-range of skills in systems troubleshooting and technical decision-making.
Educational institutes’ partnership for the Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program is based on cooperation through activities in program development, research, and teaching. This collaboration recognizes the schools as a certified Siemens education partner.
With its emphasis on in-demand industrial skills, troubleshooting, and hands-on practice, companies and industries can employ skilled technical workers while drawing on local education and training resources via partner schools.
These MOU signings are one part of The Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy (SCETA), headed by Tom Murad. The Academy was formed to enhance training and certification for tomorrow’s highly skilled workforce, fostering future innovation and developing economic activity in Canada. In 2014, Siemens signed five educational collaboration MOUs with Canadian institutes of higher education – the University of Waterloo, McMaster, Mohawk College, the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, predominantly focused partnerships on the SCETA’s Dual-Education Program as well as the Mechatronics certification program.
Siemens employs more than 4,500 employees in Canada in the fields of electrification, automation and digitalization. The company posted fiscal 2014 sales of $2.7 billion, and has 39 offices and 12 manufacturing and assembly facilities across Canada.
