Spartan Controls makes a $2.5M investment in support of BCIT Students

BCIT has unveiled the newly-named Spartan Controls Centre for Energy Education and Research. Renaming the facility is an expression of the 25 year relationship between BCIT and Spartan Controls, and Spartan Controls’ $2.5M contribution to the BCIT School of Energy.

Spartan Controls CEO Mike Begin addresses the students in the crowd

Formerly known as the Centre for Energy Education and Research (CEER), the facility is key to energy education and research at BCIT. Home to the School of Energy’s boiler, co-generation and industrial instrumentation, the Spartan Control’s Centre for Energy Education and Research supports cross-disciplinary learning and innovative research.

Spartan Controls is committed to investing in BCIT students, supporting them to effectively learn and gain valuable experience throughout their education. This partnership will create opportunities for BCIT students to receive training that is relevant to current and developing energy-related industries, creating job-ready graduates who will enter the workforce with the skills they need to succeed and become valued employees.

“As one of BCIT’s key industry partners, Spartan Controls has accelerated our efforts to provide students with leading-edge, applied learning opportunities. This new name symbolizes the significant connection between BCIT and Spartan Controls—and it speaks to a robust partnership that brings together advanced technology and thought leadership to push the boundaries of knowledge well into the future,” says BCIT President, Kathy Kinloch.

BCIT President, Kathy Kinloch, checks out the new sign with Spartan CEO, Mike Begin.
BCIT President Kathy Kinloch checks out the new sign with Spartan CEO Mike Begin

Some of those students were on hand for the unveiling, including first year Industrial Instrumentation apprentices and students from the Automation and Instrumentation technology program.

“It’s so important that industry, educators, and government work with a lot of collaboration to deliver relevant training for students, innovative learning environments, and provide the skilled resources we need for our economy and society to prosper. We can develop energy more responsibly and innovatively, creating unprecedented new value for everything from reducing emissions and reducing costs, to increasing efficiencies and operating more safely and reliably,” said Mike Begin, CEO of Spartan Controls. “We are pleased to step up our contributions in such a substantial way with a leading educator like BCIT and be recognized in this manner.”

About Spartan Controls

Spartan Controls is the leading provider of process control, measurement and automation solutions in Western Canada. For over 50 years, Spartan has provided our customers with high performance solutions, industry expertise, lifecycle support, and technical training. Our automation solutions are used by the oil and gas, oil sands, pulp and paper, power, pipeline, and municipal industries. We are dedicated to providing an exceptional customer experience where expertise and collaboration come together 24/7, 365 days a year. For more information visit www.spartancontrols.com

About BCIT

For over 50 years, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has been the leader among Canadian post-secondary institutions. BCIT is one of British Columbia’s largest post-secondary institutes, with five campuses educating more than 48,000 students in over 300 applied, hands-on programs each year.

BCIT credentials range from certificates and diplomas, to bachelor and master’s degrees in areas such as applied and natural sciences, business and media, computing and IT, engineering, health sciences, and trades and apprenticeships. The institute’s programs are developed in consultation with leading employers and industry associations, ensuring its graduates are more than ready to succeed in their careers and contribute to a productive economy from day one.

BCIT was the first institution in BC to offer advanced technical education in areas such as engineering, business, and health, and is the largest and longest-serving provider of trades training and apprenticeship programs in Western Canada. Learn more at bcit.ca.

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