Our Partnership Continues

Supporting the advancement of welding related engineering programs, student awards, events and innovation for the next three years – building stronger links between the CWB Group, the CWB Association, industry and academic excellence, and supporting knowledge transfer and innovation in welding materials and processes is at the core of our organizations, key faculty, students and administration.

PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS – THE CENTRE FOR WELDING AND JOINING

To highlight to young talent and industry the importance of providing opportunities to try welding through outreach to younger generations and supporting welding-related careers, the Foundation and the Canadian Centre of Welding and Joining are consolidating their ongoing synergies. The new funding will fulfill the following core goals of both organizations: reaching out to future welding professionals to illustrate the promise and excitement of careers related to welding and fabrication.

Funding over the next three years, totalling $225,000, or $75,000 annually, will be directed as follows:

▪ $25,000 annually to the Student Support Fund Four new student awards valued at $2,500 per award will be created along with a student travel fund that enables undergraduate and graduate students to participate in global industry-sponsored conferences and learning opportunities.

Student Achievement Awards to the following categories: Leadership, Inclusivity in Welding, Outstanding Team Member, and Outstanding Welding Student Project.

▪ $50,000 each year to the Canadian Centre for Welding and Joining Program will help fund an industrial student mentorship program, internship opportunities for students, equipment, supplies and administration. The CCWJ has an active “introduction to welding engineering” internship program for high school and undergraduate students on projects related to welding on all levels – fundamentals, simulation, modelling and experimental work. Program support funding will also include a formal program of industrial mentorship for student research projects. Additional efforts are underway to foster collaborative, project-based pan-Canadian summer student internships between Canadian post-secondary institutions and encourage a particular focus on AI, welding automation, and machine learning in partnership with industry. Funds will also be utilized for three events per year, including professional development seminars for industry, and training sessions, to host industry/government engagement as new opportunities arise.

ADVANCING WELDING KNOWLEDGE IN STEEL CONSTRUCTION: STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IN THE STEEL CENTRE

The CWB Foundation is excited to support weldingrelated research and student programs of the research team at the University of Alberta focused on steel structures research, education and innovation to ensure that industry has the skilled workforce, technologies and processes needed to compete globally. With the Foundation’s new commitment of $30,000 over three years, the annual sponsorship of $10,000 focuses on the Steel Centre’s weldingrelated initiatives. The Foundation, through the CWB Group, its clients, Association members, and staff will have the opportunities to encourage, sponsor, and participate in Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and technical research committees, as well as actively participate and support lectures, design projects, student placements and programs, clubs and events. Funding will specifically support the following:

▪ $2,500 each year in support of the Welding Advancement Award, to recognize a graduate student with high academic standing engaged in research focused on weld design, processes or welded structures

▪ $7,500 each year will go towards a variety of Steel Centre student programs and activities, including “Steel for Lunch,” feature Friday lunchtime sessions. These programs are designed for students and industry professionals to highlight unique projects, opportunities, and issues relevant to welding considerations for structural or construction engineers. The sponsorship of “The Steel Squad” is an undergraduate student group – offering site tours, enrichment activities, and training programs, both in-person and remotely, and are also open to CWB members to become involved and participate in the development of curriculum the topic stream.

▪ Research interests of the Steel Centre focus on the behaviour and performance of welded steel structures, complementing the work done at the Univerity of Alberta on welding processes. A current project is studying new welding and doubler-plate details for complex joints in steel modular pipe-supporting frames. A major new multi-disciplinary project that leverages emerging technologies, including machine learning, investigates how planning and execution of construction tasks can be optimized.

With a seat at the IAC table, the Foundation and its representatives will have the ability to propose and influence topic selection for future research in conjunction with Steel Centre membership.

Over the coming months, the Foundation will be seeking to expand its support of additional welding, welding technology, and welding engineering undergraduate and graduate education and research across Canada’s post-secondary colleges, polytechnics and universities that are leading the way to future green welding technologies and additional innovations in materials, processes, applications and AI including robotic welding, to name a few. Support will also include other student awards that support accessible education and academic excellence in welding-related programs and sponsored events. Funding of these programs has been made possible by the contributions of the CWB Group to the Foundation. We are excited to keep you posted on activities in future issues of WELD. Stay tuned!