TRAINING & EDUCATION - Instrumentation program launched with LNG-related skills in mind

Thompson River University (TRU) is anticipating the liquefied natural gas (LNG) construction boom by introducing in 2015 a new instrumentation program, said Lindsay Langill, dean of TRU’s school of trades and technology.

TRU offers, through its science program, first-year engineering, said Langill. Starting in 2015, this program’s content will be adapted to fit into a four-semester instrumentation program. Instrument technicians typically work in a number of industries including industrial construction and servicing as well as the petrochemical industry.

"Over the four semesters, we will mix the courses," he said, adding it will provide students with more career options.

He said the students can continue onto engineering at educational institutions such as the University of Northern B.C., University of Victoria and University of B.C. but will have more experience than they normally would gain at a second year program at a university.

"They will have more hands-on expertise in instrumentation and lab work," he said. "Or, students can exit into industry and have two years of their apprenticeship done."

"They would be a strong candidate for any company to pick up and in our view align perfectly with what the LNG industry is asking for," he said. The new program’s intake will begin in September 2015. Students will still have the option of taking the first year engineering course and transferring to another university to complete their engineering.