College looks to build on job placement relations
Medicine Hat College is examining the possibility of enhancing collaboration with A&H Steel, including potential scholarships, job placements and on-campus instruction.
Students in MHC’s built environment engineering technology program had a one-day workshop that allowed them to work alongside professionals in their field when four A&H employees visited campus back in February to teach them about barring.
Program co-ordinator Peter Kelly says it’s advantageous for students to have these sorts of opportunities.
“A&H Steel is looking for qualified drafting detailers as well as skilled trades. Their offer to come to spend a day working with our second-year students was both generous and immensely valuable. For them, it was an opportunity to share some insight into their operations and cultivate connections with the goal of filling skilled positions in their organization and industry. For our program and students, it provided a meaningful learning experience,” said Kelly.
The workshop included lessons and hands-on learning activities, as well as information for students on the importance of finding a company to work for whose values and culture align with their own.
Student Blair Gordon said he particularly valued the ability to put into practice the skills he’s learned.
“I wasn’t aware of how much rebar went into a concrete structure and the amount of engineering required to ensure it works as designed,” said Gordon. “My eyes were opened to the attention to detail that is necessary to perform the job and to perform it well, as well as how much time is involved in all aspects of production through to the finished product.”