Like robotics? Check this out in the fall

Sault College has received Ministry approval to offer a graduate certificate program in Robotics and Advanced Automation beginning in September 2017.

“I would say that aviation will continue to be the program we have that attracts a great number of students, but in general, robotics, advanced automation and information technology, these programs collectively will be very, very popular in the future,” said Colin Kirkwood, Sault College vice president, academic.

“They will be a very important part of Sault College.”

The Robotics and Advanced Automation program will have an intake of 20 students.

Students with a degree or a diploma are eligible to enroll in the two semester fast track program, in which they will learn skills in Sault College’s new robotics lab, getting them ready to enter the rapidly growing field of robotics.

Sault College has already collaborated with a local industry partner, Pollard Banknote Ltd., in its first industry-led applied research robotics project, the college’s annual report for the 2016-2017 fiscal year states.

New efficiencies in the packaging of Pollard Banknote’s finished gaming tickets needed to be found through robotic automation.

Students and faculty worked with Pollard employees in the lab to develop software and tested hardware and communications systems for the project.

“We couldn’t be happier about the response we have had to the lab,” Kirkwood said.

With robotics, companies like Pollard Banknote hope to increase worker safety and cut costs while still creating new jobs. 

“Robotics is an exponential, disruptive technology, and that particular industry will require a lot of graduates…certainly robotics really has the attention of international students,” Kirkwood told SooToday after the open portion of Thursday’s Sault College board of governors meeting.

Thursday’s meeting was occupied mainly with the college’s annual report for 2016-2017.

A major achievement highlighted at the meeting involved nursing students at the college.

Sault College’s Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Practical Nursing grads scored highly on two national nursing exams.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing grads had an ultimate pass rate of 92 per cent, above the provincial average of 86 per cent, while Practical Nursing grads had an ultimate pass rate of 96.5 per cent, above the provincial average of 92 per cent.

Other highlights for the college included ongoing achievements in native education, mental health initiatives for students and the Sault College Employment Solutions office having delivered $1.8 million in job training for the community over the past year. 

1,107 students graduated from Sault College at fall convocation.