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Engineering students at Durham College will soon be getting an introductory lesson in electrical code standards. In response to industry and student demands, the Oshawa-based school, with the support of OPG, is developing an introductory online electrical code course that will teach post-secondary students the industry standards for the safe installation and maintenance of electrical wiring and equipment in Canada. The School of Science and Engineering Technology (SET) is working with the college’s Corporate Training Services (CTS) to develop the new Code for Technology course, which will commence in September 2017. It will be open to SET students and may expand to others in the future. Development of this online course stemmed directly from feedback indicating that students need more exposure to, and understanding of, electrical code. “Both the Code for Technology Program Advisory Committee and our engineering students asked us to expose students to electrical code so it was very clear that an introductory course was needed,” said Philip Jarvis, professor and program coordinator for the college’s Electronics Engineering Technician, Electronics Engineering Technology and Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology programs. The new course will provide students with an opportunity to gain knowledge of electrical code in industrial control systems like those used in power plant control centres. It will focus on standards of the Canadian Standards Association, Canadian Underwriters Laboratory Standards, Ontario Occupational Safety Act, and the International Electrical Commission. This is just the latest program to come out of a decade-long partnership between the college and OPG. In May 2016, OPG renewed its partnership with Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology to support students and campus facilities as well as develop programs to train future employees of the Canadian nuclear sector. OPG's partnership supports educational programs, equipment, and student scholarships and bursaries at both institutions. At Durham College, the school continues to work with OPG to review, enhance and maintain the curriculum of its power and energy programs in order to fulfill the need for future operators. The new course’s curriculum is currently in development with Durham College’s Centre for Academic and Faculty Enrichment and subject matter experts from SET. It promises to offer students scenario-based, interactive real-world training. “As an online course, students have the freedom to learn at their own convenience and at a pace that is right for them,” said Tanya Wakelin, manager of eLearning, CTS. “The completion of this course will prepare students to enter the workforce.” STUDENTS GET A PRIMER ON ELECTRICAL CODE
