August 14, 2009 - 2:30am
Are you looking to acquire high-quality, hands on skills in demand in today's environmental sector?
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is launching a new six-month professional level Environmental Professional Certificate Program (EPCP) in September.
"It's offered by the Natural Resources Extension Program (NREP) at VIU," said program assistant Krista Convey. The training will provide environmental practitioners with leading-edge practical field experience that's relevant to today's environmental industry.
EPCP graduates will be trained to design, manage and implement diverse and multi-faceted environmental initiatives and projects, including those related to fish, fish habitat, wildlife, vegetation assessment and restoration projects; water quality sampling programs; plant, fish and wildlife identification; stream crossing design, installation, assessment and restoration; erosion and sediment control; safety initiatives (swift water rescue, wilderness first aid, boat safety); and more.
The program will include in-depth classroom lectures, demonstrations and case studies, and numerous field training sessions. Approximately half of the program will be field-based, and will provide focused, realistic field scenarios and skills training.
"The program will appeal to a cross-section of students," added Convey. "Some current applicants have science degrees but not a lot of field experience or technical skills. Our program will give them practical experience to supplement their degree.
"We're getting a lot of interest in the new program from displaced forestry workers, and environmental consultants and technicians who want to upgrade their skills."
Program coordinator Darren Hebert developed the new program in response to feedback from industry, particularly in mining, oil and gas, as well as BC Hydro and First Nations communities.
Hebert said needs assessment surveys and Canada-wide labour market surveys indicate a very strong interest and demand for environmental practitioners. Further, Labour Market surveys indicate that on average approximately 6,000 environmental practitioner job vacancies occur each year in Canada.
"The EPCP is specifically designed to meet that need - by providing highly-applied, in-demand practical skills training," Hebert said. "The significant growth within the environmental sector, as well as impending retirements for existing environmental practitioners, will create a significant demand for a skilled environmental workforce."
To maximize student development, class size is limited to 16 full-time students, with one full-time classroom instructor and two full-time field instructors.
The program will be offered September 8 to December 11, then from January 4 to April 2 in Nanaimo. Future plans include program offerings throughout western Canada.
Prerequisites for enrolment are completion of Biology 11, English 11 and math. To apply or for more information, email Krista.convey@viu.ca, call (250) 740-6492.
Tags: In the Community
