Industry Forecasts High Demand for Graduates from New Broadcast Engineering Technology Program at Loyalist College

Loyalist College has received accreditation from the U.S. Society of Broadcast Engineers Inc. for the new three-year Broadcast Engineering Technology program commencing September 2008. There is only one other college in Canada with this accreditation. Graduates of Loyalist’s advanced diploma program with a B average or higher will be certified with the Society of Broadcast Engineers, Inc., expanding their career opportunities throughout North America.  Employers are eagerly anticipating the first graduating class.

“I know there is a great need for production technicians in the broadcast industry,” said Dianne Schnuth from Sim Video Productions Inc., a broadcasting and production equipment rental company with offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Los Angeles and Beijing. “I’m very excited about this program being offered at Loyalist College.”

Jane Harrison, Acting Dean of Media Studies at Loyalist College, explains what makes this program so appealing to industry professionals. “This is an opportunity for students to enrol in a program that has been developed specifically for engineering and the broadcast discipline. Prior to this, many employers found it necessary to hire employees with general skills, but then had to spend time and resources familiarizing them with the broadcasting field. Graduates of this program will enter the industry prepared to make valuable contributions from day one.”

“Every live show needs a transmission component, whether it is a satellite truck, a teleport, fiber optics or one of the microwave trucks that are so popular now,” explained Lawrence Partington from TV 2 GO. “It’s broadcast engineering grads that are needed, they’re the people who get those jobs.”

Students in the program will learn how to design, build and manage broadcast systems, facilities and IT networks. Troubleshooting broadcast equipment to component level, performing routine and preventative maintenance of computer systems and networks, and providing maintenance on all broadcast transmission systems will be within the graduates’ capabilities.

Donna Beuelander of Alliance Atlantis Communications describes the opportunities within the industry. “Broadcast engineering is a booming business. The entire Canadian broadcast landscape is looking for broadcast technicians and broadcast engineers right now.”

For more information regarding the Broadcast Engineering Technology program contact Jane Harrison, Acting Dean of Media Studies at (613) 969-1913, ext. 2437. 

Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332, e-mail: mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca  or Jane Harrison, Acting Dean, Media Studies at ext. 2437.