How Nutrien Employees Are Changing Mining Education

Published: Jun 20, 2024

To really understand a job, you need to talk to the people on the front lines – the ones with their hands on the wheel (or the laser-guided underground mining machine, as the case may be).

Nutrien is thinking differently about mining education and investing in the future through partnerships with post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan. An important part of this approach is the role that our front-line people are playing in shaping the curriculum.

A few years ago, Sask Polytech introduced an innovative system of Program Advisory Committees (PAC) that bring people active in industry into the conversation about what students should be learning to be successful in their careers. There are currently about 700 hands-on experts from different industries participating in the PAC conversations.

Their impact is real.

It was a conversation at the PAC table that identified the need to update training related to software and technology used in the mining industry. By keeping the curriculum up to date with current standards, Sask Polytech is able to send grads into industry better prepared for the roles they will fill.

We want to thank our people who are helping to advance mining education:

• JeriAnne Weber, a lab supervisor at our Vanscoy potash operation;
• Lisa MacKenzie, a senior land advisor in our Engineering, Technology and Capital department;
• Peter Sanderson, an automation specialist in our Engineering, Technology and Capital department;
• Doug Jankoski, a mine planner in our mine engineering department;
• Michele Low, a mine surveyor at our Cory operation; and
• Smith Le, a steam engineer at Vanscoy.

You’re making Sask Polytech stronger, our company better and helping people prepare for careers in our industry.