By Mark Edward Nero
The University of British Columbia is to receive a $2
million investment from Seaspan Shipyards over the next seven years to support
teaching and research in the naval architecture and marine engineering programs
at the UBC faculty of applied science.
The two parties revealed the agreement Feb. 18.
“Seaspan is developing and growing a shipbuilding and ship
repair center of excellence in British Columbia, and helping drive Canada’s
marine industrial base in the process,” said Brian Carter, president of Seaspan
Shipyards. “We are thrilled to partner with UBC and take one giant step closer
to realizing this goal by creating rewarding new careers and investing in a
brighter future for thousands of British Columbians and their families.”
Seaspan Shipyards is expected to be an integral part of the
new master of engineering leadership in naval architecture and marine
engineering program, which UBC launched in early 2016. The one-year
program combines graduate engineering courses at the faculty of applied science
with business courses at the UBC Sauder School of Business.
“UBC is western North America’s only academic institution
offering graduate programs in naval architecture and marine engineering,”
interim university President Martha Piper said in a statement. “Seaspan’s
investment supports our leadership in these areas and also advances BC’s
shipbuilding and marine solutions.”
As a result of the agreement, two new chair positions are to
be created at the university: one in naval architecture and one in marine
systems engineering, both of which are expected to be recruited this summer.
“Master of engineering leadership graduates will be primed
for careers overseeing shipbuilding operations, procurement, and ship design,”
said Marc Parlange, dean of the UBC faculty of applied science.
More information about the naval architecture and marine
engineering master’s programs is available at http://name.engineering.ubc.ca
