Money from the provincial government will enable Vancouver Island University to offer more spots for students looking to enter the trades.
The provincial government has granted $772,640 to the university for 144 trade seats, with the aim to lessen wait times for students.
The money will go toward 50 foundation seats in welding, 18 foundation seats in electrical, 32 fourth-class seats in power engineering, 16 level-two seats in electrical, 16 level-one seats in heavy duty mechanics and 12 level-two seats for the professional cook trade.
The money is part of $6.1 million that will pay for 1,429 trade seats this year in 14 post-secondary institutions across B.C. as part of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.