BC's Indigenous Public Post-Secondary Institute

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Launches Renewable Energies Technology Diploma Program

MERRITT BC – Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is pleased to announce a September 2020 intake for it’s new Renewable Energies Technology (RNET) Diploma Program. 15 new and ongoing seats will be made available to BC students through new funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. This program represents a direct response to the increased need for quality training in the Renewable Energies sector and will deliver the foundational knowledge in the relevant electrical, electronic and mechanical disciplines that are required in the renewable energies sector. Learners in the Renewable Energies Technology program will build root knowledge in the electrical, electronic and mechanical disciplines and how they interact in the renewable energies sector. In addition, they will be introduced to the general concepts associated with global climate change and the practicalities associated with sustainable energy including conservation techniques, from an Indigenous perspective
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is thrilled to be partnering with Fanshawe College in Ontario to tap into their award winning curriculum, draw on their expertise and benefit from their many years of experience delivering the Renewable Energies Technician program. NVIT researched Renewable Energy and Green energy programs throughout Canada and found the Fanshawe program to be the best fit for our needs and the emerging renewable energy sector in BC. The program will be unique in British Columbia and Western Canada, and will be especially appealing to rural communities who are beginning to transform their reliance on fossil fuels to green energy options. 
“Building human capacity to support green technologies in Indigenous and rural communities in the face of climate change is a priority for NVIT and the Fanshawe collaboration is key to realizing this goal” said Margaret Hohner, RNET Program Coordinator at NVIT.
“On behalf of Fanshawe College, we are very excited to travel to meet with our colleagues at Nicola Valley to advance discussions about a Memorandum of Understanding on Academic Cooperation between the two post-secondary institutions.” Said Ross Fair, Associate Dean, Fanshawe St, Thomas/Elgin Regional Campus. 
Bob Campbell, Program Coordinator for the Renewable Energies Technician program at the St. Thomas Campus noted: “We have already had several productive telephone and email conversations about Renewable Energies training. We are offering our experience in Ontario and are learning from their research and program development plans in B.C.”
According to Dr. Aruna Gore, Dean of Technology at NVIT, “the Renewable Energies Technology program is focused on the primary applications of renewable energy and will appeal to individuals seeking formal training to enable them to enter the renewable energies field as employees or entrepreneurs..”
To apply, please visit NVIT.ca to start the application process. NVIT is currently encouraging all learners and community members that might be interested in this program to attend an information session and gathering with our institutional partner, Fanshawe College on February 19, 2020 from 1:00PM – 4:00PM in the Lecture Theatre, NVIT Merritt Campus. 

For further information, please contact:

Margaret Hohner | Co-op Coordinator
NICOLA VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 4155 Belshaw St. Merritt BC V1K 1R1
Office: 250-378-3385 | Fax: 250-378-3332
E-mail: mhohner@nvit.bc.ca