Durham College (DC) student Jordan Jolicoeur recently earned a career-launching, all-expenses-paid trip to the annual Rockwell Automation Fair in Houston, Texas, courtesy of industry leader Westburne Electric (Westburne).

A third-year student in DC’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program, Jolicoeur spent two days networking and gaining a greater understanding of the breadth of career options available to him in his chosen field.

As a shortage of skilled professionals in their field continues, top engineering and tech employers from across Canada and around the world are turning to new recruitment efforts to attract top student talent. Westburne approached DC about sponsoring a student to attend the fair specifically based on the reputation of the college’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program, which is ranked #1 in the province for knowledge and skills, quality of learning experience, graduate satisfaction and graduation rate.

Westburne selected Jolicoeur as the best candidate from his class based on a combination of factors, including his grade point average and his written justification for why he should attend. He was the only student sent by Westburne to the 2017 Rockwell Automation Fair, which featured the latest trends and explored how The Connected Enterprise is bringing the Industrial Internet of Things to life for companies around the world.

The Electromechanical Engineering Technology program at DC offers students a blend of electronics design and mechanical technologies, with automation, instrumentation and control systems at its roots. Training in DC’s premier advanced automation facility, the Integrated Manufacturing Centre, students advance through an experiential learning path that engages them with real-world controllers, operator touch screens, industrial networks, robotics and more. Graduates acquire the education and skills needed to design and troubleshoot automated systems used in a variety of industries.

As a key recruitment pool for Westburne, numerous graduates of the program have gone on to work for the nationwide leader in energy solutions, among numerous other top employers. Throughout the year, DC hosts top employers on campus to provide students with opportunities for networking and learning more about career opportunities within their chosen field.