Skill development for marine, aerospace and defence

Eight unique credit courses for students, grads and employees growing their careers in the marine, aerospace and defence sector.

Woman with welding equipment looks out over the rail of a ship.

Overview

Learn essential skills that will help propel you into exciting and in-demand marine, aerospace and defence careers. These courses have been developed to strengthen and sustain the marine, aerospace and defence sector across Canada. Each credit course is based on specialized topics highly relevant to careers in the sector.

While these courses are credited, they are not yet offered as electives, meaning full-time students take on an extra course in addition to their program.

Duration
45 to 60 hours (varies per course)

Delivery options
All courses are offered in-person and asynchronous online - choose which of these 2 delivery options works best for you.

Target audience

You're an NSCC student entering (or in) the final year of a qualified program (see course schedule below).
You're a student in an applicable program, or a graduate of an applicable program (see programs above).
You're an employee working in the marine, aerospace and defence sector.

Course descriptions

Marine Essentials - Shipbuilding Trades

An immersion in marine and shipbuilding concepts for welders, pipefitters, metal fabricators and millwrights entering shipbuilding, ship repair and in-service support in shipbuilding. This course also focuses on safe working practices, interpreting marine drawings, marine terminology, and ship structure and design.

Marine Essentials - Shipbuilding Technologies

Develop your knowledge of marine concepts and technologies. This course covers general concepts about shipbuilding, including history and trends in shipbuilding in Nova Scotia, elements of ship construction, safety and quality concepts, organizational structure, and an introduction to some of the unique methods, technologies, tools and techniques used in this dynamic workplace.

Production Planning and Scheduling for Shipbuilding

This course explores efficient processes for on-time delivery production to minimize production time and costs. Course contents include estimating and forecasting, resource planning, monitoring production and accessing inventory.

Introduction to Project Controls

This course provides an examination of the set of processes used to understand and influence the amount of time or money spent on a project, such as budget forecasting, project schedule, project scope and risk management.

Supply Chain Management

Study risk management, contract management, RFI, RFP, RFQ (competition, awarding) as well as logistics and transportation.

Introduction to Integrated Logistical Support

Gain skills to manage the logistics involved in the design and production of a ship. This course covers the management and technical process through which supportability and logistic support considerations are integrated into the design and production of a ship.

Configuration and Information Management

This course provides an in-depth examination of the steps necessary in complex programs to connect the design incarnation to the setup attributes of the manufacturing line, ensuring the most important requirements are prioritized.

Introduction to Quality Management in Marine Manufacturing

Explore how quality management has become an imperative in the dynamic and competitive environment of modern shipbuilding. In this course you will gain knowledge of key production quality concepts and develop valuable technical and business skills in quality assurance and quality control as it is implemented in a marine manufacturing context.

Course schedule

See when courses are being offered, and the NSCC programs that qualify you to take them.

Course	Dates	Qualified NSCC programs
Marine Essentials - Shipbuilding Trades	March 17 to June 6, 2025	Industrial Mechanical Metal Fabrication Welding Pipe Trades Electrical
Marine Essentials - Shipbuilding Technologies	March 17 to June 6, 2025	Business Administration (year 2) CAD Technician - Mechanical Civil Engineering Technology Electronic Engineering Technology Industrial Engineering Technology Mechanical Engineering Technology
Production Planning and Scheduling for Shipbuilding	March 24 to June 27, 2025	Business Administration (year 2) Business Analysis Civil Engineering Technology Construction Management Technology Industrial Engineering Technology
Introduction to Project Controls	March 24 to June 27, 2025	Business Administration - Accounting Concentration (year 2) Business Analysis
Supply Chain Management	January 20 to April 18, 2025	Business Administration (year 2) Civil Engineering Technology
Introduction to Integrated Logistical Support	January 20 to April 18, 2025	Business Analysis Civil Engineering Technology Electronic Engineering Technology Industrial Engineering Technology Mechanical Engineering Technology
Configuration and Information Management	March 24 to June 27, 2025	Business Administration - Accounting Concentration (year 2) Business Analysis Civil Engineering Technology IT Data Analytics
Introduction to Quality Management in Marine Manufacturing	January 20 - April 18, 2025	Architectural Engineering Technician Business Administration (year 2) Business Analysis Business Intelligence and Analytics CAD Technician - Mechanical Drafting – Architectural Electrical Engineering Technology Electronic Engineering Technology Industrial Engineering Technology Mechanical Engineering Technology Metal Fabrication Pipe Trades Survey Technician

Other info

This investment in Canadian skills development is being made pursuant to Irving Shipbuilding’s Value Proposition commitments under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Questions and registration

Contact Lorie Mitchell, Project Coordinator of Marine and Defence Initiatives at for more information on scheduling and how to register.