SASKATOON — Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre students recently had the opportunity to participate in a one-day, hands-on learning camp at Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Saskatoon campus.
The opportunity offered practical experience and valuable insights from industry professionals and is the second mechanical and automotive learning camp Sask DLC and Sask Poly have hosted this year.
Student registration in Sask DLC's mechanical and automotive courses increased significantly in its second year of operation. To date this school year, there are more than 400 student registrations for Sask DLC Mechanical and Automotive courses, including 186 with work placements.
Last year, 126 students registered in Mechanical and Automotive 10, 20 or 30 level courses, completing more than 4,500 work placement hours. An additional 97 students took the introductory theory-only course.
Sask DLC and Sask Polytech learning camps provide students from across the province with opportunities to learn about potential career paths and make informed choices for their future beyond high school. The camps allow students to either confirm their current career aspirations or discover new ones. Students also get a preview of Sask Polytech's Automotive Service Technician certificate program and apprenticeship training options.
"We have an excellent partnership with Sask DLC and always appreciate hosting high school students on campus for hands-on training," Sask Polytech President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said.
“These one-day camps are a great opportunity to learn more about a career in the automotive industry and discover what Sask Polytech can offer. Our instructors bring industry experience and a wealth of knowledge - whether it's to the camps or to our shops, classrooms and labs."
Sask DLC offers six Mechanical and Automotive courses for students across the province, including a 10-level introductory course where students can choose to do full online theory or participate in 75 hours of online theory with a 25-hour work placement. At the 20- and 30-level, each course is a combination of 50 hours of online theory and 50 hours of an in-person work placement at a local business. Students choosing to participate in the learning camp at Sask Polytech earn six credit hours toward their work placement requirement.
Student work placements are made possible thanks to a partnership between Sask DLC and the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealers Association (SADA). Through this partnership, students are provided with opportunities to complete their work placement at a SADA member dealership. This partnership provides students with work placement opportunities near their home community and supports the automotive sector's recruitment of future qualified employees to serve the industry.
"Our association is pleased to help provide students with meaningful work placement opportunities," SADA Executive Director Larry Heggs said.
"Work placements with our member dealers provide students with fundamental practical skills and allow them to make key contacts in the industry."
These courses complement several other Sask DLC courses with work placements or hands-on learning opportunities available to students including:
- Agriculture Equipment Technician
- Autobody
- Construction and Carpentry
- Electrical
- Energy and Mines - Oil & Gas
- Parts Technician
- Power Engineering
- Precision Agriculture
- Tourism
- Welding
Sask DLC's Mechanical and Automotive courses are open for registration for the 2025-26 school year at . The courses are available to full-time Sask DLC students or high school students attending local schools throughout the province to supplement their in-person learning. High school students can contact their local school administrator or guidance counsellor for help registering.
You can learn more about all online courses with work placements available through Sask DLC at .
