Humber College, Festo Didactic launch five-year workforce development training program
January 29, 2018
By Manufacturing AUTOMATION
Jan. 29, 2018 – Humber College and Festo Didactic are entering into a five-year partnership agreement designed to address the skills gap between industry needs and educational programming.
The agreement, in which Humber will become the exclusive postsecondary partner for the delivery of Festo’s proprietary training courses in the Greater Toronto Area, also includes the installation of the first Cyber Physical Factory in English Canada. The factory, to be housed in the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, is an expandable model enabling companies to research and engage in industrial simulations using technology to support production, logistics and quality assurance.
“Festo’s collaboration will strengthen Humber’s track record of providing leading advanced manufacturing and mechatronics education to our students and the community,” said Dr. Chris Whitaker, president of Humber College. “This partnership brings the future of Learning Systems education to Humber, and shows the importance of industry partners working with students on emerging technologies.”
In addition to training, professional development and certification initiatives, the partnership will focus on fostering innovation and education through a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach program to engage Ontario youth.
“Festo Didactic values Humber’s vision for the future of technology and innovation, and we’re excited to partner with the college to provide the opportunity for students to learn the skills and gain practical experience that today’s employers demand,” said Thomas Lichtenberger, Festo Didactic CEO. “Bringing us together with other industry partners, we look forward to a collaboration that leads to a world class automation and learning systems centre at Humber.”
The agreement will also provide students with internship opportunities in automation and manufacturing at Festo’s headquarters in Germany, as well as employment pathways to positions at Festo’s Customer Interaction Center in Toronto.
