news chevron partners with university of alberta to strengthen engineering safety

Chevron Canada announced today it is investing $400,000 over the next three years in the University of Alberta’s Engineering Safety and Risk Management (ESRM) program.

This investment, made jointly through Chevron Canada and Chevron Corporation’s University Partnership Program, will advance academic excellence in safety by training future engineers how to enhance the incorporation of safety and risk management practices into 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 & 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.”

“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."

Added Forbes: “We are grateful to Chevron for their vision and commitment to creating a culture of safety for people, the environment and organizations.”

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, beneficial to all categories of industries.

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 to substantially enhance the program; implement new teaching and learning methods and content in order 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.

Following are key benefits of Chevron’s investment in the University of Alberta’s Engineering Safety and Risk Management (ESRM) 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 and the University of Alberta have a long history that includes investments in research and student scholarships. Chevron Canada is one of several companies that helped support the university’s Endowed Chair in Engineering Safety and Risk Management.

The University of Alberta is now the third academic institution in Canada to join Chevron Corporation’s University Partnership Program, following Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador and the University of Calgary.