Building up engineers: RRC Polytech, U of M celebrate collaboration

The University of Manitoba and Red River College Polytechnic are making it easier for engineering technologists to earn a degree.

Against the backdrop of a career fair, representatives from both post-secondary institutions gathered at U of M on Wednesday to celebrate their expanded partnership.

The schools finalized a series of agreements that give recent RRC Polytech graduates direct entry into the Price Faculty of Engineering.

“We’ve all heard stories — sometimes, from our own students — about individuals who’ve left the province to pursue engineering degrees elsewhere,” said Derek Kochenash, who oversees RRC Polytech’s school of skilled trades and technologies.

“While they gain valuable experience, we know there are missed opportunities for those who cannot or would prefer not to leave their communities.”

This collaboration solves that challenge by giving engineering technologists the chance to learn new skills in Manitoba, Kochenash said.

Given RRC Polytech has a longstanding relationship with Lakehead University, alumni have often moved to Thunder Bay to pursue professional engineering.

Phoemela Miranda, 21, considered that route before she learned about the RRC Polytech-U of M partnership.

“I was really unsure of what my dreams actually were (in Grade 12). I didn’t know if university was for me,” the new U of M student said.

Miranda was initially drawn to RRC Polytech because of its emphasis on co-op placements — an opportunity to earn money while exploring different jobs before committing to a costly and lengthy professional degree.

It was during a summer placement at Stantec in 2024 when she was working on a major bridge reconstruction project that she realized she wanted to become a professional engineer.

Miranda graduated with a civil engineering technology diploma program in the spring. She’s one of the first RRC Polytech students to make the direct transition to U of M.

The schools reached an initial agreement in the spring, allowing for up to 10 technologists to enrol in civil and mechanical engineering seats during the 2025-26 school year. The initial cohort includes nine students.

U of M announced Wednesday it will begin reserving 10 seats for RRC Polytech graduates in each of its engineering streams — biosystems, electrical, computer, mechanical and civil — this fall.

The application deadline for the 2026-27 intake is March 1.

The direct-entry option is available to applicants who’ve graduated from RRC Polytech within the last decade.

Kochenash said that time frame was chosen in order to ensure the college’s graduates have studied modern curriculum.

He touted the new flexibility and choices available to aspiring engineers.

“There are now multiple entry and exit points aligned with both student goals and industry needs,” the dean said, referring to RRC Polytech’s pathway to engineering technology programs and its diploma offerings, as well as all the engineering degree options at U of M.

RRC Polytech graduates about 150 students from its nine engineering-related programs every year. U of M graduates approximately 300 engineers annually.

A dual credential — being certified as a technologist and an accredited engineer — is “very valued” in the industry, said Marcia Friesen, dean of the Price Faculty of Engineering.

Friesen said these complementary credentials support one’s career mobility and leadership growth.

Price Industries’ director of engineering services echoed those comments.

“(These graduates) are going to be very, very powerful. I’m going to be keeping an eye on these students,” said Graham Fediuk, whose firm employs a combined 300 engineers and engineer technologists.

Fediuk said his colleagues who have both credentials have “a very well-rounded skillset,” owing to their in-depth study of applied and theoretical education.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca