Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy

There are five schools in Ontario and Alberta participating in SCETA's Dual Education Program:University of Waterloo, Mohawk College, University of Alberta, McMaster University, NAIT.

Future plans will see the Dual Education Program expand nationally.

In the Dual Education program, the partner schools and Siemens Canada work closely together to provide students with a comprehensive and holistic education. Theory and practice periods alternate, and are delivered in a coordinated and complementary fashion.

Students receive valuable educational and career development opportunities:

• learn about the most advanced innovations in engineering technology, develop professional skills, and expand their professional network
• have their educational qualifications enhanced through experience working with the leading-edge experts and technology of Siemens, one of the world's foremost engineering and technology companies
• graduate with professional and workplace skills to kick-start a successful career in the industry, giving them an advantage over their non-SCETA colleagues

Typical theory periods, which emphasize overall competence and decision-making skills, include:

• Job-specific specialist technical knowledge
• Generalist business knowledge
• Interpersonal/social and 'soft' skills
• A thematic approach to subjects taught every day for a period of time (i.e. in blocks) or one day per week for an extended period of time

Practical periods, which emphasize real-life experience in a true work environment, include:

• Career-oriented practical specialist and methodology knowledge
• "Real" work in the company's projects and day-to-day operations
• Personalized support from the instructor and/or mentor
• Business rotation in Siemens Canada's Engineering, Engineering and Technology, Projects/Field Services or Innovation and Design areas

Possible career paths the SCETA student can follow within Siemens Canada include:

• Engineering and Technology
• Project Management
• Business Development
• Business Management
• Manufacturing

Engineering and engineering technology students must be enrolled in the co-operative education program at one of the five partner schools.

Specific requirements are as follows:

• Minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average
• Availability to complete all educational, training, and co-op work terms with Siemens Canada
• Willingness to relocate and travel, as required
• Canadian citizens or permanent residents authorized to work in Canada
• Commitment to work at Siemens on a full-time basis for a minimum of four years after graduation

Applicants should be resourceful - true problem solvers who challenge themselves to find the most effective and efficient solutions to complex challenges. It's a program for those who want to have an impact - to contribute toward the future success of Siemens, its customers, and the world in general.

To apply, students must follow their school's standard co-op application procedure. Contact the school's co-op placement office for more details.

SCETA offers many advantages for engineering students. One University of Waterloo student got sagely advice from his father.

When Christopher Roy (UW) began his engineering studies at the University of Waterloo, he couldn’t have imagined that within three years he would be part of the inaugural Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy (SCETA).

The Whitby, Ontario, native went to Waterloo for its co-op mechanical engineering program. He had been influenced by his father, a French Canadian from Quebec, who had a positive co-op experience in Sherbrooke, Quebec, years earlier. His father, a programmer, works for IBM, while a sister is also an engineering student at Waterloo.

“My father told me about all the benefits of taking co-op,” said Roy. “I heard Waterloo had the best co-op program, and was recognized for their engineering program.” Roy enjoyed maths and sciences in high school and he took naturally to engineering-related projects, so engineering made sense.

His first co-op placement was in Toronto working for Cadbury as a reliability engineer. “One of the strong features of the co-op program, from my dad’s perspective, was how I could pay for my education at the same time as getting practical experience.” His first work term was spent on campus in Waterloo as a teaching assistant. His other work term was at Alberta’s Fort McMurray – it was a winter term – working for Suncor. “Fort Mac was a great community; the people were great and the community is awesome.”

Still, real world work experience can be eye-opening, he said. “You get to see how different the workplace is from what you learned in school, and how unique it is.” Roy has friends at other universities who elected not to take co-op and he has noticed how difficult it is for them to find related work in the summers. “At Waterloo we have a great co-op system in place, so finding a job is much easier than at many other universities.”

He enjoys the campus experience at Waterloo, where every building is seemingly different and unique. “Every building has its own personality,” he said. At Waterloo he played rugby, but a shoulder dislocation, followed by a trip to the hospital, introduced him to the Siemens name when he saw it on various pieces of healthcare equipment. “But at the time I didn’t realize Siemens was involved in all these other industries.”

He first heard about the SCETA program while in the co-op office one day. “I didn’t really know much about Siemens at the time; I just knew I had seen the name everywhere, so I went to their info session. John Da Silva was there as was Dr. Murad, and they did a presentation. I got real excited by that.”

So much so that SCETA became his placement of choice. He was thrilled to be offered a placement at Siemens. “One of the main things I like is that they’re keeping me on for the remainder of my undergraduate program. Most programs are only for four months, so the security is nice here.”

But even more enticing was the fact that with SCETA, he would get the opportunity to work in a variety of areas. There are so many industries involving mechanical engineering; the problem a young student has is trying to narrow that down to one area. “What really sold me on SCETA was how we will have an opportunity to test drive in each of these industries within Siemens such as Wind and Energy Management for example.”

He’ll also have a chance to try different roles, such as project management and reliability maintenance. “You get a feel for what you’ll like, and that way, when we graduate, we’ll have a good idea of the area we’d like to work in. Siemens is a lot bigger than I originally thought.”

After a heavy emphasis on training and learning the lay of the Siemens land during the first part of the summer, Roy and his classmates then began the practical work rotation portion of their training. “It’s been great so far,” he said. “I look forward to finding something I love.”

There are three levels of certification. Each is directly tied to a job profile that clearly defines what certified personnel should be able to do.  While these levels are "stackable," each can also be a standalone entity.

• Level 1: Siemens Certified Mechatronic Systems Assistant
• Level 2: Siemens Certified Mechatronic Systems Associate
• Level 3: Siemens Certified Mechatronic Systems Professional

1. At post-secondary schools, as part of their curriculum

The SMSCP is designed to be seamlessly integrated into a school's curriculum, enabling the student to receive both an industry certification in mechatronic training and a school diploma. Working with post-secondary educational institutions, Siemens assists in the physical and curriculum requirements needed for the school to offer the program to its students at its location. As of April 2016, Seneca College and Sheridan College offer Mechatronic training onsite. Mohawk College will launch its SMSCP in fall 2016.

2. Students enrolled in SCETA's Dual Education Program will receive SMSCP training as part of their curriculum.

Graduates will attain a Level 1 certificate (Siemens Certified Mechatronic Systems Assistant).