Conestoga welcomed Magna International for the second Magna Skills Showcase highlighting students’ innovative projects and showcasing the cutting-edge technology used in the college’s trades and engineering programs.
Conestoga skilled trades students talked about their hands-on learning with leaders from Magna International during the Magna Skills Showcase at the Cambridge campuses.
Leaders from Magna International visited the Fountain Street campus and Conestoga Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge on March 31 to tour labs and speak to students from the School of Trades & Apprenticeship and School of Engineering & Technology about their projects and gain insights into the practical learning experiences provided by their program instructors.
The tour was joined by Magna Scholars, students in skilled trade programs who received scholarships from Magna to support their studies. Scholar recipient Brady Pillsworth, who is in the Electrical Engineering Technician - Industrial program, led the group at the Reuter Drive campus.
Pillsworth appreciated hearing directly from industry professionals about what skills employers are looking for in new hires. “That’s just an invaluable experience. You always end up learning something.”
Pillsworth also attended the annual Magna Skilled Trades Job Fair held earlier in the day for students to connect with representatives from about 25 companies and organizations looking to recruit skilled trades students for graduate, co-op and seasonal positions. Magna sponsors the event as part of the company’s leadership gift supporting innovative and inclusive trades training programs at Conestoga.
Again, this was informative for Pillsworth, who is completing his first year and looking forward to co-op placements to put his learning into practice on the job.
“I always want to make the employer happy. That’s the idea,” Pillsworth said.
Magna Scholar Laiba Awan, a first-year student in the Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Welding and Robotics program, felt inspired by the visit from Magna, especially since her goal at graduation is to work for the mobility technology company and automotive supplier.
“They’re also very welcoming,” Awan said.
Awan’s classes currently focus on building welding skills and knowledge that will act as a foundation for future semesters where she will work with welding automation and robotics systems. She found it reassuring to hear that mastering hand welding first leads to better outcomes with robotic welding and is highly valued by employers.
Chris Patinios, Magna’s global senior manager of talent attraction and employee branding, emphasized the importance of familiarizing first-year students like Awan and Pillsworth with the company. Magna invests in the college and its skilled trades students to address skilled labor shortages and fuel the trades talent pipeline.
“I definitely think it is invaluable. The partnership’s been really good,” Patinios said.
The annual visits with students are an opportunity to share knowledge and ask questions. Magna employees get to see first-hand the advanced equipment students are using and how the hands-on class projects develop essential skills, problem solving and teamwork needed in the workplace.
“I think it’s great for our leaders to come and see what the students are actually learning,” Patinios said.
Conestoga’s School of Trades & Apprenticeship and School of Engineering & Technology both offer a comprehensive array of programs incorporating active learning through project-based learning, co-operative education, applied research opportunities, case studies and capstone projects. The college has established partnerships over the years with many successful local, national and international companies, resulting in program enhancements and significant career opportunities for students.