New Oshawa, Ontario university program set to spread across Canada

A new and in-demand program at an Oshawa university is set to roll out in Western Canada. 

This week, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Ontario Tech University announced a partnership to deliver the nuclear career accelerator program in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.

Ontario Tech, also known as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, rolled out the nuclear career accelerator program, an 11-week online upskilling program for mid-career engineers and technical professionals entering or advancing in the nuclear sector, in 2025.

Ontario Tech said the program provides foundational training in nuclear systems, safety and regulatory frameworks. 

Under the new agreement, Saskatchewan Polytechnic will be the exclusive delivery partner for the program across western Canada.

“Canada’s nuclear future depends on developing a highly skilled workforce at scale,” said Dr. Steven Murphy, president and vice-chancellor, Ontario Tech University, in a statement. 

“By partnering with Saskatchewan Polytechnic, we are extending Ontario Tech’s leadership in nuclear education to expand access to high-quality, industry-informed training and support workforce development across western Canada.”

Ontario Tech is, the institution said, Canada’s only university with an accredited undergraduate nuclear engineering program. It boasts specialized infrastructure and long-standing industry partnerships. The curriculum includes courses in nuclear plant design, radiation protection, nuclear chemistry and materials, heat transport, steam-generation systems and nuclear physics.

A previous Ontario Tech news release said the program was launched in response to increased demand for nuclear expertise, noting that this demand is driven by Canada’s ongoing expansion of nuclear energy capacity to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

The most recent news release said Saskatchewan Polytechnic complements Ontario Tech’s nuclear expertise through its applied learning model, industry engagement and experience.

The partnership is a step towards building Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Western Canadian Nuclear Training Centre, which is expected to increase nuclear workforce training opportunities in response to growing national and global demand.

The centre will provide training for mining and energy employees who need nuclear-specific skills, technical professionals looking to transition into nuclear, current students and recent graduates looking for the expertise and skills to thrive in this high-growth industry, and leaders preparing for small modular reactor projects and regulatory compliance.

According to a 2025 Ontario Tech news release, Canada’s nuclear sector faces a 30 per cent retirement rate and an expected 20 per cent demand for workforce growth.