SASKATOON – The Saskatchewan Research Council plans to expand a new program that helps find mentors for aboriginal post-secondary students in the maths and sciences. The idea is to take First Nations, Metis and Inuit students from the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and connect them with a council member in the same discipline.
The aim is to take their education and work experience to the next level.
Thomas Lavergne, a third-year engineering student, was the first in the program.
He worked hands-on in northern Saskatchewan this summer on site investigations and environmental monitoring.
The research council hopes to expand the program to a dozen students by next summer.
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“We have opportunities in oil and gas, mining and minerals, agriculture, biotechnology and manufacturing, so there’s lots of opportunities in different sectors,” council CEO Laurie Schramm said Friday.
“And we also hope that if this is successful, we’ll be able to broaden beyond the University of Saskatchewan and engage with other universities and colleges.”
Lavergne said he learned a lot.
“This was extremely important for my growth as a student and as someone who’s going to be entering the workforce next year,” he said. “I was really happy to be part of it.”
The research council and university have signed a memorandum of understanding to help develop the program.
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