New ‘collaboration space’ to assist engineering students in Northern B.C.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — The Province of B.C. will assist students in the north pursuing engineering degrees by helping fund a “lean” learning facility.

B.C. will spend $3.5 million at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to increase its use of existing classroom space and teaching laboratories and create a centralized collaboration space for programs starting in September 2019, when UNBC students can start the first full civil and environmental engineering degree program in the North.

“These environmental and civil engineering students are the change-makers, innovators and leaders we need to help create a greener, more sustainable future for the best B.C.,” said Melanie Mark, minister of advanced education, in a press release. “This investment is all about opening doors for students into B.C.’s tech sector, which is fast growing and supports good-paying jobs. Our government is thrilled to make UNBC an educational destination of choice so that students in the north can study close to home.”

The funding is part of the province’s CleanBC strategy to shrink climate pollution and support energy-efficient solutions.

The facility funding follows an announcement in January that allocated funding for new civil and environmental engineering degree programs, which will ramp up to a total of 280 additional spaces by 2022-23 with 70 graduates per year expected by 2023.

“UNBC provides a unique learning environment for engineering students. We are fortunate to have passionate, dedicated faculty sharing their knowledge and expertise with us as we develop skills that will have benefits not only in the north but around the world,” said Lucia Dekleer, a UNBC environmental engineering student. “I’m certain UNBC students are appreciative of the government’s investments in the post-secondary environment, including today’s announcement, and we look forward to welcoming our fellow civil and environmental engineering students in the fall.”