Sustainable transportation solutions leader Alstom signs major agreement with Ontario’s Earth District consortium

A new agreement between Alstom, a global leader in producing and maintaining electric trains and Canada’s leading provider of regional rail systems, and a consortium of five Ontario colleges and universities known as the Earth District, will create new learning, research and work opportunities in the mobility sector.

The Alstom/Earth District memorandum of understanding (MOU) will help develop the talent needed to deliver sustainable mobility solutions critical to tackling the climate crisis, such as the electrification of regional rail systems.

The impact of this relationship will make an immediate impact as Alstom continues to deliver several projects in the GTA. The MOU strengthens access to, and development of, future talent that will ensure these projects are successful.

• Alstom news release (October 30, 2023)

The Earth District consortium spans the eastern Greater Toronto Area to Peterborough and the Kawarthas as it includes Ontario Tech University, Centennial College, Fleming College, Trent University, and University of Toronto Scarborough.

Through the agreement, the parties will:

• Co-operate on the hiring of interns, co-op students and new graduates from the Earth District collaborating universities and colleges.
• Share opportunities to use Alstom expertise in rail-related lectures and assisting student-led initiatives in their technical challenges.
• Assess and define the opportunity to develop the first Canadian rail specialization in engineering accessible to undergraduate students from the different Ontario-Tech engineering programs through Alstom University, Alstom's in-house learning and skill development entity, and where applicable, other learning program opportunities across all parties.
• Explore opportunities to engage with applicable industry leaders that would be of benefit to all parties, including opportunities related to joint research and development.

The five colleges and universities comprising Earth District collectively account for more than 80,000 enrolled students, deliver a variety of indispensable programs from skilled trades with specializations in transportation to a strategic mix of engineering programs and project management that serve the mobility and energy sectors. Collaboration with the consortium directly connects Alstom to key talent, creates opportunities to advise the post-secondary institution on the knowledge and skill needs and explore a systems approach to innovate the rail industry by utilizing expertise in adjacent sectors.

Other key facts

• Ontario Tech currently has over 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students across two campus locations in Oshawa. Approximately 2,700 are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate Engineering program.
• The impact of this relationship will make an immediate impact as Alstom continues to deliver several projects and services in the GTA including light-rail vehicles to Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission.
• Alstom employs over 2,200 people in the GTA, notably in Whitby and Brampton, and is the only manufacturer to have rolling stock production facilities in Ontario. Developing access to talent is key to the growth and success of the province’s transit projects, rail ecosystem and supply chain.

Alstom™ is a protected trademark of the Alstom Group.

Quotes

“Ask any Alstom employee what they love most about their work, and they will tell you it is because we do something that truly matters. At Alstom, we work every day to help solve climate change through sustainable mobility. We want to share not only our passion with these students, but provide them the opportunity to join us and to drive the urgent shift toward sustainability through research, development and technology.”
-Michael Keroullé, President, Alstom Americas

“The Earth District consortium is excited to embark on this MOU with Alstom to collaboratively engage and develop future talent at both the college and university levels on initiatives that will build sustainable mobility solutions to help address climate change. Collaboration amongst post-secondary institutions that aligns with the goals of industry partners like Alstom, will allow us to create change and develop innovative solutions that are critical to a sustainable future."
-Dr. Les Jacobs, Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Ontario Tech University

“This exciting, new partnership will provide Ontario’s post-secondary students with valuable internships at Alstom to prepare them for jobs in the high-demand rail and sustainable technology sectors. It is a true win-win as Alstom will have access to some of the brightest, new talent coming out of our post-secondary sector to meet their workforce needs.” 
-Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities

About Alstom      

Alstom commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 80,000 people from 175 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated revenues of €16.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2023.

For more information, please visit alstom.com.

About Earth District

The Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (Earth District), established in 2021, is a consortium comprising of five Ontario post-secondary institutions: Centennial College, Fleming College, Ontario Tech University, Trent University, and University of Toronto Scarborough. Earth District’s goal is to fuel sustainable, resilient communities locally and around the world. By spanning its reach from the eastern Greater Toronto Area to Peterborough and the Kawarthas, Earth District will develop the region's sustainable technology sector through research, academic programming and commercialization of advanced technology. An Earth-commissioned study projects the District to generate $8.4 billion in total direct cumulative output, $1 billion in taxes and more than 4,000 jobs over the next two decades*.

For more information, please visit earthdistrict.ca.

*Data drawn from an Earth-commissioned study conducted by Stiletto Consulting in 2020.

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