Instructors, staff and students inside Ontario Tech University’s Nuclear Simulation Laboratory – Photo courtesy of Ontario Tech
A fresh and highly sought-after program at a university in Oshawa is about to expand into Western Canada.
This week, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Ontario Tech University announced their collaboration to offer the nuclear career accelerator program in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta.
Ontario Tech, also known as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, introduced the nuclear career accelerator program, which is an 11-week online upskilling initiative for engineers and technical professionals looking to enter or progress in the nuclear field, back in 2025.
Ontario Tech highlighted that this program offers essential training in nuclear systems, safety protocols, and regulatory standards.
According to the new agreement, Saskatchewan Polytechnic will serve as the exclusive provider for this program throughout western Canada.
“Canada’s nuclear future depends on developing a highly skilled workforce at scale,” said Dr. Steven Murphy, president and vice-chancellor of Ontario Tech University, in a statement.
“By partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, we are extending Ontario Tech’s leadership in nuclear education to expand access to high-quality, industry-informed training and support workforce development across western Canada.”
Ontario Tech claims it is the only university in Canada with an accredited undergraduate program in nuclear engineering. It has specialized facilities and established partnerships within the industry. The curriculum covers topics like nuclear plant design, radiation safety, nuclear chemistry and materials science, heat transport processes, steam generation systems, and aspects of nuclear physics.
An earlier news release from Ontario Tech noted that this program was initiated due to growing demand for expertise in the nuclear sector. This rising need is largely attributed to Canada’s efforts to increase its nuclear energy capacity as part of its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The latest announcement mentioned that Saskatchewan Polytechnic enhances Ontario Tech’s strengths by bringing its hands-on learning approach along with strong industry connections and experience.
This partnership marks progress toward establishing Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Western Canadian Nuclear Training Centre. This centre aims to boost training opportunities within the nuclear workforce due to increasing national and global needs.
The centre will provide training for employees involved in mining and energy sectors who require specific skills related to nuclear technology. It will also cater to technical professionals wanting to transition into this field as well as current students or recent graduates seeking skills necessary for success within this rapidly growing industry. Additionally, it will prepare leaders for small modular reactor projects along with ensuring regulatory compliance.
A 2025 news release from Ontario Tech indicated that Canada’s nuclear industry anticipates a 30 percent retirement rate combined with an expected demand growth of 20 percent for workforce expansion.
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