Alstom accelerates railway careers in Canada with new funding for Ontario Tech students

This new funding comes during the lead-up to the launch of Canada’s only English-language undergraduate Railway Engineering specialization in September 2025. Developed with the support of Alstom and other organizations in the industry, the program will begin with four rail-focused courses open to third-year students in Manufacturing, Automotive, Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering programs. A similar French-language program supported by Alstom will also launch this fall at Polytechnique Montréal.

“Alstom and Ontario Tech’s expanding partnership is a standout example of how industry and academia can come together to shape the future,” said Dr. Hossam Kishawy, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Ontario Tech University. “We’re proud to be an institution that responds to market needs and drives innovation. With Alstom’s generous support, we’re preparing the next generation of engineers to lead transformative change in high-impact sectors like rail.”

Michael Keroullé, Americas Region President, Alstom, noted: “Our partnership with Ontario Tech University sows the seeds for future generations of rail-focused engineers whose talents will ensure our railways will be designed and built in Canada by Canadians.”

A three-step program

Alstom’s support will be split into three separate, yet related Ontario Tech initiatives:

• Over three years, a total contribution of $66,000 (approximately 42,000 euro) will fund the Alstom Canada Women for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Scholarship. This will provide six $5,000 Entrance Awards for academically high-performing female undergraduate students beginning their first year of an eligible STEM-focused program. In addition, recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year will receive $2,000 in-course awards in their second, third and fourth years provided they maintain the required minimum GPA in an eligible STEM program.

• A commitment of $10,000 (approximately 6,500 euro) per year will support Ontario Tech’s Student Enrichment Program. This initiative focuses on increasing the number of career-ready graduates entering energy-related fields by building strong connections between industry and emerging talent through hands-on learning, in-class knowledge sharing, mentorship, recruitment initiatives and more.

• Once Ontario Tech establishes the Railway Design team in the 2025-2026 academic year, annual contributions of $5,000 (approximately 3,000 euro) will be provided for two years to support the team’s work.

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