July 7, 2011 – Videotron has signed a three-year partnership agreement with the École de technologie supérieure de Montréal (ÉTS) development fund to support the training of the next generation of engineering and IT professionals, it announced. They said that the agreement clears the way to a unique exchange of information on the telecommunications industry’s skilled labour needs and the content of the educational programs offered by ÉTS.

“I strongly believe that the business community needs to work more closely with institutions such as ÉTS to make sure it has the highly skilled people it needs to help build Québec’s economic and technological future,” said Robert Dépatie, president and CEO of Videotron.

Videotron said it will take advantage of the partnership with ÉTS to strengthen its relationship with the professionals of the future by informing ÉTS students of the many career opportunities in their field. Internships and fund career choice scholarships will also be implemented in the near future.

As part of the partnership, Videotron will support an ongoing project by ÉTS students to design a one-seat race car by providing a $60,000 grant ($20,000 per year for three years). The ÉTS team of approximately 20 students has been entering its vehicle in international contests organized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), where they compete against students from nearly 200 colleges and universities the world over. The evaluation criteria are based on, among other things, design, endurance and dynamic performance. Long-term funding will let the ÉTS Formula SAE team concentrate on its vehicle’s performance and focus its energies on innovation.

“We are very grateful to Videotron for the exceptional financial and technological support they are providing to a student club,” said Yves Beauchamp, director general of ÉTS. “We know it will benefit both our students and Québec businesses.”

Videotron Business Solutions has also joined the partnership by installing wiring in ÉTS’ recently renovated gym.