Chevron makes key donation to engineering safety and risk management program

Chevron investment will advance academic excellence in engineering safety and risk management

30 October 2018

(October 30, 2018) How can industries create accident-free workplaces? How can we build and maintain infrastructure like bridges, pipelines, and railways so they never fail?

A $400,000 investment by Chevron Canada announced Oct. 30 to support the University of Alberta's Engineering Safety and Risk Management (ESRM) program will help answer these questions.

This investment, made jointly through Chevron Canada and Chevron Corporation's University Partnership Program, will advance academic excellence in safety by teaching future engineers how to better include safety and risk management practices in their professional activities.

"Chevron Canada has had a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship with the University of Alberta, and this investment continues our tradition of supporting academic research and training at one of Canada's leading engineering schools," said Frank Cassulo, president of Chevron Canada.

"Process safety and risk management are key focus areas for Chevron around the world," added Chris Mazerolle, vice president of Operations and Business Services for Chevron Canada and chair of the Industry Advisory Panel for the ESRM program. "We are very pleased to support the University of Alberta in this critical area which is aligned with our core values of protecting people, the environment and communities."

Chevron's donation to the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management will be used to expand and develop undergraduate courses, compile case studies and other essential resources for the program, implement new teaching and learning methods and content to expand the program across all engineering fields, and support the development of post-graduate studies and research programs in engineering safety and risk management.

"Through its support Chevron is ensuring that soon, all of our engineering undergraduates will complete their degree with core courses in ESRM, creating a culture of safety here in Alberta and beyond," said Fraser Forbes, dean of engineering at the University of Alberta. "This generous support enables us to further develop our curriculum to prepare our students to practice their profession through the lens of safety and risk management.

"We are grateful to Chevron for their vision and commitment to creating a culture of safety for people, the environment, and organizations."

Following are key benefits of Chevron's investment in the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management program:

  • By 2019, all engineering undergraduates will have completed the core ESRM course - these engineers will be ready to assess risk and take into consideration high public expectations around risk management in engineering.
  • 1,000-plus students will graduate each year with an extensive background in ESRM, increasing the pool of future employees with knowledge and practical experience in safety and risk management.
  • Graduates will demonstrate core values of safety, be positive role models in this field and help to shape the culture of safety within an organization.

"Chevron has a long history of supporting the University of Alberta across many faculties and disciplines. The Faculty of Engineering has been very fortunate to have been included," said Forbes.

"We have a partnership built on trust: We have great trust in Chevron as a leader in the energy industry and we know they have great trust in us and our ability to give students the best engineering education possible."

The University of Alberta is now the third academic institution in Canada to join Chevron Corporation's University Partnership Program.

The University of Alberta offers the only Engineering Safety and Risk Management program in Canada and has a research chair to guide the program. The ESRM program teaches core engineering competencies in the principles and practices of providing a safe and reliable working environment, across all kinds of industries.

Backgrounder

About the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management

A first in Canada, the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management at the University of Alberta builds on 25 years of ESRM teaching, research and outreach at UAlberta Faculty of Engineering. Graduates will become engineers ready to assess risk and take into consideration high public expectations around risk management in engineering, from the design of a safe intersection to plans for a sprawling refinery.

Good ESRM protects communities, businesses, enterprises and people. Guidance from industry leaders has been integrated into an ESRM curriculum that creates graduates who don't have to learn the basics of safety and risk management on the job.

The U of A Faculty of Engineering has set a goal of raising $15M to support the David and Joan Lynch School of Engineering Safety and Risk Management. Gifts supporting the school create generations of ESRM-educated engineers.

  • Students benefit from many touch points with industry: speaker series, industrial research projects and programs, workshops and more.
  • The school offers ESRM to all third- and fourth-year engineering students. By 2019 every graduate will have taken ESRM courses.
  • Graduate-level ESRM programs become available in the medium-term. Longer term, undergraduates are able to pursue an ESRM minor.
  • The school will recruit faculty to teach, research and develop ESRM programming. Work has started toward endowing research chairs in the school. More industry professionals will deliver lectures.