Enerkem Inc., a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company, has announced a partnership with the Université de Sherbrooke to create a leadership and skills development program designed to train employees and develop future leaders.
Enerkem’s VP of Human Resources, Philippe Burton, said in a statement to media that the academy was created to offer a comprehensive professional development program where the company could consolidate its entire “training, knowledge sharing and succession development component," as well its leadership program.
"At the heart of this leadership program, which we developed with the Université de Sherbrooke, are Enerkem's deeply-rooted core values: excellence and innovation,” Burton said.
On October 18, 2012, Enerkem Academy's inaugural cohort participated in the first of a series of eight seminars, which are offered alternatively at the university's two campuses in Sherbrooke and Longueuil, Quebec.
The leadership training program was developed with the Centre universitaire de formation continue of the Université de Sherbrooke (CUFC). The mandate of this continuing education centre is to give companies access to all of the university's expertise.
"This training solution, adapted to Enerkem's business reality, is the result of a close collaboration with the company's managers", explained CUFC Director of Development, Isabel Dunnigan. "We are enthusiastic to work with this leader of Québec's green economy, which was founded in Sherbrooke and with whom we have a privileged relationship."
Over the years, Enerkem and the Université de Sherbrooke have developed close ties. Enerkem's co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Esteban Chornet, is also a Professor Emeritus of the Faculty of Engineering. He taught at the university from 1970 to 2007.