[jeddy1989]

MUN Engineering Plans to Double Capacity for Students

With a shortage of engineers on the province's mega-projects, the Faculty of Engineering at Memorial is looking to beef up its program. VOCM's Lacy O'Connell explains.



Memorial University is planning on doubling its capacity for engineering students by the year 2020. Dean of Engineering, Dr. Greg Naterer, spoke at this week's Rotary Club meeting. He says the engineering faculty has some of the highest standards in the country, with entrance marks averaging around 88 per cent. But, he says there are excellent students who don't get in, simply because of the program cap. As well, up to two-thirds of the engineering work on mega-projects here is done by engineers from outside the province.

There are 1,200 students enrolled in undergraduate engineering now, and he says that's going to drastically increase in years to come. Naterer says to fund the program and get the space needed, they will most likely look for financial help from oil companies, in exchange for responding to the need created by those very same companies.

http://www.vocm.com/newsarticle.asp?mn=2&id=38686