‘Try-a-skill’ a big hit with prospective SAIT students

SAIT’s annual two-day open house is underway in Calgary.

And once again, a popular way of showcasing the institution’s programs is proving to be a big hit among prospective students.

WATCH BELOW: SAIT instructor Jodie Piercey teaches Betty Jo Kaiser how to draw blood

Try-a-skill has expanded ever since its inception six years ago.

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“We’ve really become a victim of our own success for try-a-skill,” said Jim Szautner, Dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation at SAIT.

“We used to just do it in just a small foyer for our heart building, and what we found is we have people lined up outside the door to try a different try-a-skill, so we had to widen our footprint.”

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The ability to experience state-of-the-art simulators and test out skills is something James Wilson, a Grade 10 student in Canmore, believes will help him with his career choice.

“It’s pretty cool because you get to know more of what you like doing, so it helps when you choose what you want to go into,” Wilson said after trying out virtual reality painting.

WATCH BELOW: Gord Gillies tries his hand at operating a crane

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Other hands-on try-a-skill options include welding, robotics and manufacturing.

As many as 10,000 people are expected to attend this year’s open house, which started Friday and wraps up on Saturday, Oct. 28.