The University of Regina's Canada-Ukraine Science Internship Program (CUSIP) will continue for another five years with funding support of $60,000 from SaskPower, a long-time program sponsor and supporter.

Along with SaskPower, the University of Regina, Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC), Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC) and MERA Consulting will host internships and provide financial support for CUSIP in 2010. To become a sponsor, each employer contributes $6,000 per student to pay for the intern's airfare, meals and accommodation while in Canada and in turn acquires a skillful candidate for a specified work term.

The internship program, managed by the Office of Energy and Environment at the University of Regina for over ten years, provides an opportunity for undergraduate students from the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas in Ukraine to participate in three-month internship activities in Canada at various companies. During these internships, students learn Western business practices and enhance Canadian business economy and culture by sharing their knowledge of Ukrainian culture and business.

Over the next five years, SaskPower will provide internships for two students per year who specialize in power supply engineering, and economics and marketing.

"SaskPower is happy to support this programme and is pleased to meet the needs of the Ukrainian students while benefiting itself from the exposure to the new ideas and varied experiences the students bring to us," states Ian Yeates, SaskPower Manager for Corporate and Business Planning. "I expect the programme will continue to be the success it has been to date for all involved; and, SaskPower has enjoyed the partnership with the U of R, as well as the U of IF in the Ukraine in delivering this programme to date."

Margaryta Nykoliak, a 2003 CUSIP student, recalls, "My participation in CUSIP was a great eye-opener for me. First, it gave me the unique opportunity to see how real science is done in Canada. It was great to see such a level of technical and financial support, particularly in my field of ecology and environmental engineering. This level is still unreachable here in Ukraine, but it showed me what we can go for in our country."

CUSIP has also provided an opportunity for many students to return to Canada after completing their undergraduate studies in the Ukraine and continue in their respective fields of study at the graduate level at the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to their internship experience, the Ukrainian-Canadian communities in Regina and Saskatoon contribute to the cultural and educational experience of the students.