Since 2014, Cégep de Saint-Jérôme has been at the forefront of transportation electrification in Quebec. The only college offering a program in electric vehicle technology, it gave rise to the very first generation of technicians specialized in the design and manufacture of innovative transportation.
Training: a key element of the energy transition
Over the coming years, gasoline-powered vehicles will gradually disappear to make way for cleaner means of transportation. With the plan to accelerate electric and intelligent transportation Ambition 2030, the government of Quebec aims to become the world leader in this industry within the next eight years. But to allow transportation electrification to thrive, it is essential to develop a pool of properly trained talent.
The shortage of qualified labour is indeed an obstacle to the industry's growth, particularly among the various electric vehicle manufacturers. Offering the only postsecondary training program specialized in electric vehicle technologyin North America, Cégep de Saint-Jérôme is a key player in the expansion of innovative transportation.
Employers are snapping up the new graduates of the AEC in Electric Vehicle Technologies, both because of their rarity on the market and their technical skills. According to Erik Laperle, pedagogical advisor at the CSTJ: "This training was designed to specifically meet the industry's labour needs. From the moment they graduate, students bring a body of knowledge and sought-after expertise to their future employer." This coherence between the skills developed and the sector's needs is certainly one of the great strengths of this program.
The real impact of our trainers
The teachers and trainers in the program are all professionals from electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and automation. Over the course of their careers, they were among the first to acquire expertise in this emerging industry. They can therefore provide rich instruction to their students by offering them a concrete and realistic vision of the workplace.
"By passing on their knowledge, our teachers have a real impact on the development of the innovative transportation industry," says Mr. Laperle. This unique sharing of knowledge benefits not only the students and the industry, but it also brings great recognition to the teachers who actively contribute to the advancement of transportation electrification.
Because the transportation electrification program is an advanced training, the students are adults who already have basic knowledge in mechanics or electrical engineering. Teachers can therefore focus primarily on learning the technological aspects specific to electric transportation that they are passionate about and that have a real impact on the advancement of innovative transportation.
Innovation at the heart of the training
To ensure the program is constantly updated with the latest technical and technological breakthroughs, the CSTJ collaborates with the biggest players in the industry. The Innovative Vehicle Institute, also based in the City of Saint-Jérôme, is one of the main research partners. The college is therefore a direct conduit between innovation and industry.
A pioneer in the field, the college is not only recognized by its higher education peers, but it has also developed expertise that is increasingly sought after by the private sector. The offering of CSTJ's in-company training enjoys a growing reputation in the transportation electrification industry.
"We help companies make the transition to transportation electrification by raising the knowledge level of their employees," continues Mr. Laperle. This service is offered on a tailor-made basis, meaning the content of each training is based on the company's specific innovation needs and environment. In turn, existing staff receive a concrete upgrade to their knowledge that perfectly reflects their reality.
Trainers and instructors wanted
By combining college training and an in-company service, the CSTJ contributes doubly to the expansion of electric vehicles. Whether by training future technicians or by upgrading current workers, the college has a real impact on transportation electrification in Quebec.
The expertise acquired over recent years even surpasses Quebec's borders; increasingly, Canadian and American institutions are showing interest in working with the CSTJ to train qualified labour in innovative transportation. The college is also looking for engineers who wish to actively contribute to the transportation electrification movement to meet the strong demand for training, both for course loads at the college and for in-company training. Interested parties can contact directlythe program manager, or visit the website of the Continuing Education at Cégep de Saint-Jérômefor more information.
This partner content was produced as part of the En route! project – The career destination for electric and intelligent transportation.
