Civil Municipal Magazine - Dec 2023

A Diverse Post Secondary Landscape A key factor in Oshawa’s transformation has been its commitment to post-secondary education. The city is home to several post secondary education providers, including Durham College, a rapidly growing institution which has been part of the community since 1967. The establishment of Ontario Tech University 20 years ago has been a significant milestone for Oshawa, evolving into a prominent research university with a global perspective, boasting a student body representing approximately 142 different nations. Additionally, Oshawa’s partnership with Trent University Durham GTA, has yielded tremendous growth in the city. The local campus of Trent University in Oshawa has become one of the fastest growing in terms of enrollment, with recent additions like a graduate program that welcomed 800 international students for graduate studies. “We’re blessed because we have nearly 3,000 students that are part of post secondary community,” conveys Mayor Carter. In recent years, Oshawa’s post-secondary education institutions have partnered with a wide range of industries, reshaping the city’s workforce landscape. While the automotive sector has long been a cornerstone, there’s a notable pivot towards the healthcare industry. Mayor Carter highlights Lakeridge Health’s presence in the region, influencing the curriculum at Durham College to meet the rising needs of healthcare professions, particularly in nursing and related fields. Oshawa’s universities have also forged impactful partnerships, such as Ontario Tech University’s collaboration with Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Carter relays, “Because of Ontario Tech University and that relationship, Ontario Power Generation are now situating over 2000 employees, and opening up their head office, right here in the great city of Oshawa. We will be a support system for the small modular nuclear program and hydrogen development.” Similarly, Trent University’s logistics program leverages the OSHAWA , ONTARIO