HQP Training Program, Create IISC

HQP Training Program

The training environment is designed to support HQPs (Highly Qualified Personnel) across the full spectrum of university education; from, undergraduate students, to post graduate students at the masters and doctoral level, to post doctoral fellows (PDFs).

One focus of CREATE-IISC is on training of graduate students and PDFs with funding allocations of, two years for MSc students and PDFs and 3-year funding for PhD students. Undergraduate students will be hired mainly as summer interns with funding allocated for four months of internship. Students can also participate in CREATE-IISC Program via their final year capstone project.

IISC Classroom training

Although IISC trainees will be attached to one of the academic departments at UofC, UBC, UofW or UVic, they will receive training input from the faculty in the U of C Environmental Design and Science (EVDS) department. All graduate trainees will enroll in a “core course” that engages students in the key domain areas of assessing disruptions, infrastructure integration, techno-economics, environmental and social assessment, scenario planning, and sustainability. The IISC core course will be delivered in a manner that will allow students from all four participating universities to take it in person or online. Considering the interdisciplinary nature of the course, it will be team-taught by the subject area experts from SSE, EVDS and Science.

Internships & collaborator-hosted workshops

The collaborators, especially the city of Calgary, Alberta Transportation, CUTRIC and Stantec have committed to hosting trainees through internships and sponsoring trainee-led workshops and brainstorming sessions. The workshops and brainstorming sessions will educate trainees and will lead to the development of research projects. IISC trainees will benefit from real-world experience stemming from tackling emerging urban issues while Calgary and other municipalities will benefit from future employees that are capable of bridging silos within municipal, industrial and provincial governmental environments.

Individualized Industrial training

Some of our trainees will participate in four-month (masters-level) and eight-month (doctoral and PDF-level) Mitacs internships. These placements will be with trade organizations and consultants that will bolster diversity of experience and facilitate trainee entry into the workforce by promoting interaction with non-academic sectors. Partner placements will be individualized and aligned with each trainee’s research project to provide focused training opportunities.

Exchange with other universities

Some of our trainees will participate in exchange programs with the other collaborating universities ranging from one to two terms in duration. These exchanges will attract international students, increasing the opportunity for international collaboration and the development of a large pool of potential trainees.

Leadership development opportunities – Annual conferences & seminar series

Trainees will be given the task of organizing and participating in at least one annual conference or symposium that will bring all team members and collaborators together. All trainees will be required to attend the seminar series organized for the benefit of all IISC trainees, PIs, and collaborators. Each trainee will prepare and deliver at least one 30-minute seminar during their IISC tenure. Typically, one seminar is required for MSc students and PDFs, while two are required for PhD students. The seminars will be held at U of C, but trainees and IISC members from other universities may participate via videoconferencing. The conference and seminar series topics will focus on the theoretical and applied aspects of sustainable integrated infrastructure practice and research.

Proffesional Development (PD) Opportunites

Two non-credit PD courses, ENGG 601 and 603, are currently offered at the SSE to provide basic PD training to graduate students. Students in other universities will be required to register in similar existing courses in their home faculties or departments. In ENGG 601/603, students gain training in communication, research methodologies, peer-review process and project management skills. Trainees will also be encouraged to select from a menu of other existing professional training and leadership courses.