HQP training program

The training environment is designed to support HQPs (Highly Qualified Personnel) across the full spectrum of university education, from undergraduate students, to post-graduate students at the masters and doctoral level, to post-doctoral fellows (PDFs).

Undergraduate students

Undergraduate students (UGSs) will participate in the program as summer research interns (SRIs). SRIs will contribute to a research project and attend workshops and research seminars. We anticipate that many SRIs will extend their summer research into a formal UGS research project course, like ENCI 597 or ENCI 570, that will serve as a capstone design project course from (September through-April),  accelerating their progress into the graduate program. UGS involvement will serve as a recruitment tool, with four months for SRIs and eight months for capstone projects.

Post-graduate students

IISC post-graduate trainees will enter the program via Engineering and Environmental Design Programs at the University of Calgary (UofC), and Engineering Programs at the University of British Columbia (UBC), University of Waterloo (UWaterloo) and University of Victoria (UVic), and some other collaborating universities. Depending on their background, each trainee will be assigned a 'program pathway' that includes a set of individualized courses and workshops, an interdisciplinary research project, and a hands-on workplace assignment. A supervisory committee comprised of domain area experts will be appointed to guide the trainee as soon as the research project is finalized. since all thesis research projects will involve at least two domains (e.g., system analysis and environmental analysis, or transportation and water pollution), trainees will be co-supervised by two domain experts to ensure diverse skillsets are developed and the interdisciplinary exposure reinforces trainee research.

Post-doctoral fellows

PDFs represent the next generation of IISC researchers and educators. They will conduct cutting-edge research and gain supervisory experience by being involved in undergraduate and graduate student academic training. Similar to graduate trainees, PDFs will have co-supervisors from different domain areas. Strategic PDF recruitment will strengthen existing national and international collaborations while fostering new ones. The host university for the trainee may either be the U of C or the partner university, provided the trainee spends at least two-thirds of the time at the U of C.

Leadership development opportunities – annual conferences and seminar series

Trainees are given the task of organizing and participating in at least one annual conference or symposium that will bring all team members and collaborators together. All trainees are required to attend the seminar series organized for the benefit of all IISC trainees, PIs, and collaborators. The conference and seminar series topics focus on the theoretical and applied aspects of sustainable integrated infrastructure practice and research.

Professional development (PD) opportunities

LIFT program (Leaders of Innovations in Future Technologies) is designed specially for IISC trainees. The main purpose of the LIFT program is to produce well-rounded HQP with professional development skills/ workplace skills, including (but not limited to) project management, leadership, entrepreneurship, communication, team building, creative collaborations, creative innovations, story telling and time and stress management. We provide enhanced learning experience at all educational levels (Undergraduate, Masters, Doctoral and Post Doctoral) by ensuring HQP will be given the opportunity to obtain hands-on experience in cross-disciplinary and team settings. LIFT program consists of three interactive sessions, which include hands on projects, class presentations and assignments, teamwork assessment matric, and a set of guest lectures. Enrolling in LIFT program is mandatory for the HQP in CREATE-IISC program, ideally, they will need to enroll in their second year of the program.

IISC classroom training

Although IISC trainees are attached to one of the academic departments at UofC, UBC, UofW or UVic, all graduate trainees are required to enroll in a “core course” that engages students in the key domain areas of assessing disruptions, infrastructure integration, techno-economics, environmental and social assessment, scenario planning, and sustainability. The IISC core course (ENCI619: Special Topis In IISC) is delivered in a manner that will allow students from all four participating universities to take it in person or online. Considering the interdisciplinary nature of the course, it is team-taught by subject area experts from both academia and industry.

Internships and collaborator-hosted workshops

Our collaborators have committed to host trainees through internships and sponsoring trainee-led workshops and brainstorming sessions to educate trainees and to assist them develop their research projects. IISC trainees benefit from real-world experience stemming from tackling emerging urban issues while Calgary and other municipalities will benefit from future employees that are capable of bridging silos within municipal, industrial, and provincial governmental environments.

Individualized industrial training

Our trainees are required to participate in an industry internship or student exchange program with other collaborating universities.  These placements are with trade organizations and consultants that bolster diversity of experience and facilitate trainee entry into the workforce by promoting interaction with non-academic sectors. Partner placements is individualized and aligned with each trainee’s research project to provide focused training opportunities.

Exchange with other universities

Some of our trainees participate in exchange programs with the other collaborating universities ranging from one to two terms in duration. These exchanges attract international students, increasing the opportunity for international collaboration and the development of a large pool of potential trainees.