NSERC CREATE for Training in Civil Engineering: STEWARD - System Training and Education in Water Assets Research and Development

公众对自来水和环境中的清洁水的期望有助于推动水部门从其历史上的“低技术”形象成为“清洁技术”经济的关键组成部分。 然而，北美地下基础设施系统的缺陷对我们目前的水分配和废水收集系统的安全供水提出了技术、经济和安全挑战。为了解决这些水基础设施的挑战，很明显，一个新的全面的教学方法，它利用了一系列的专业知识，将需要在水行业培训下一代的年轻专业人员。水资源研究与开发系统培训和教育（STEWARD）计划将通过加拿大特有的合作环境来满足这些培训需求。 从达尔豪西大学和女王大学提供的超过80万美元的大学资助中，可以看出对STEWARD项目的兴趣。 这两所大学在实验室和研究设施方面都提供了大量的基础设施支持，并有能力领导这一培训计划。 STEWARD还吸引了来自研究机构（STREAM -基于英国的水培训计划）、水务公司（公用事业公司金斯顿、哈利法克斯水务公司）和顾问公司（Stantec）的支持。 STEWARD将在NSERC项目的6年时间里培养63名HQP或119名全日制同等学历的学生（24名本科生，45名硕士生和50名博士生），促进他们向加拿大劳动力的过渡，并为他们提供独特的技能和广阔的视野，形成下一代年轻专业人士，领导基础设施工程和管理的改进。 每年将使用专门为STEWARD设计的指标来衡量STEWARD的培训成果。 这些成果将由政策方案委员会每年进行评估，该委员会将为方案主任和行政团队提供指导。

Public expectations for clean water at the tap and in the environment have contributed to driving the water sector from its historical "low-tech" image to become a key component of the "clean-tech" economy. However deficiencies in the North American buried infrastructure system present technical, economic and security challenges for safe water delivery in our current water distribution and wastewater collection systems. To address these water infrastructure challenges, it is clear that a new comprehensive pedagogical approach, which draws upon a range of expertise, will be required to train the next generation of young professionals in the water industry. The Systems Training and Education in Water Assets Research and Development (STEWARD) program will meet these training needs through a collaborative environment that is unique to Canada. Interest in the STEWARD program is evident from the greater than $800,000 in university-based funding support from Dalhousie University and Queen's University. Both Universities have generated substantial infrastructure support in their laboratories and research facilities and are well-positioned to lead this training initiative. STEWARD has also attracted support from research organizations (STREAM - UK-based water training program), water utilities (Utilities Kingston, Halifax Water), and consultants (Stantec). STEWARD will train a total 63 HQP or 119 full-time equivalent students (24 undergraduate, 45 Master's, and 50 Doctoral) over the 6 years of the NSERC program, facilitating their transition into the Canadian workforce, and providing them with unique skills and broad vision, forming the next generation of young professionals leading improvements in infrastructure engineering and management. The training outcomes for STEWARD will be measured annually using metrics that have been designed specifically for STEWARD. These outcomes will be assessed annually by a Policy Program Committee, which will give guidance to the Program Director and administrative team.