Camosun College and Marine Institute Partner for Ocean Technology
Archived Content
This archived web page remains online for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated and may contain out of date information. If you’re looking for specific information and haven’t found it, please contact communications@camosun.ca.
October 22, 2008
 |
(l-r) Dwight Howse, head of MI’s School of Ocean Technology, Dr. Tom Roemer, dean of Camosun’s School of Trades and Technology and Glenn Blackwood, executive director of the Marine Institute. |
Higher education and applied research in Canada’s ocean technology sector is the focus of a new collaboration between Victoria’s Camosun College and the Marine Institute at Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland. This week Dr. Tom Roemer, dean of Camosun’s School of Trades and Technology and Glenn Blackwood, executive director of the Marine Institute, exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding to develop new joint initiatives in the ocean technology field at the opening of the Ocean Innovation Conference in St. John’s, NL.
“This collaboration brings tremendous opportunities to share and develop our mutual interests in the ocean technology field for the benefit of students, companies and researchers,” says Glenn Blackwood.
“Canada’s east and west coasts have joined,” says Dr. Tom Roemer. “Camosun and the Marine Institute will work together to significantly grow our abilities to serve the training and research needs of the ocean sector here in Canada and around the world.”
Camosun College and the Marine Institute are ideally situated to develop new training and technology transfer initiatives for Canada’s east and west coasts. The agreement allows both post-secondary institutions to explore student and faculty exchanges, academic credit transfer and bridging opportunities between programs. The two institutions will also focus on identifying opportunities for joint applied research and developments projects in ocean technology and international opportunities where the institutions may work together.
"Our oceans and ecosystems in peril call for a truly concerted effort at all levels. As Canada's colleges and technical institutes have taken on the roles of applied research and technology transfer hubs, it is consequential that we forge strategic alliances,” says Roemer. “With respect to ocean technology, we could not have hoped for a more suitable partner than the Marine Institute. This collaboration is indeed ‘from sea to sea'."
Located in Victoria, BC, Camosun College offers more than 100 innovative programs including university transfer and applied degree programs; career and trades training; upgrading and preparatory programs; and continuing education to approximately 12,000 learners. Camosun is the largest provider of engineering technology programs among BC colleges and hosts a series of bridging programs from engineering technology diplomas to engineering degrees. The college has begun to establish applied research and development activity in the area of Ocean Technology and forge relationships with Ocean Technology developers on Canada’s West Coast. Recently, Camosun College received a federal grant to establish the Vancouver Island Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Prototyping Centre, which will ultimately aid industry in the development of new ocean technologies.
The Marine Institute established its School of Ocean Technology in May 2007 to focus on technologies that enable safe, efficient, and effective activity in ocean industries, including ocean instrumentation, marine information and communication technologies, ocean mapping and underwater technology. The School offers diploma and certificate programs in Remotely Operated Vehicles and Ocean Instrumentation. Its Office of Applied Research has also been actively involved with ocean technology developers in Canada and internationally. It also oversees the Journal of Ocean Technology, the Oceans Innovation Conference and SmartBay, a Canadian technology that provides access for stakeholders to data and supports effective management and sustainable development of coastal and ocean areas.
Contact
David Sovka
Associate Director, College & Community Relations
Camosun College
4461 Interurban Road
Victoria, BC V9E 2C1
250–370–4241 | cell: 250–514–7055
sovkad@camosun.bc.ca
Last updated: October 22, 2008 10:21 am
