HOUSTON (July 22, 2026) – This July, Lone Star College-University Park leadership welcomed the Quebec Delegation in Houston for a tour of its Energy & Manufacturing Institute (EMI), where state-of-the-art classrooms and labs offer courses in artificial intelligence, energy systems, robotics, automation, computer-aided design (CAD), machining, computer programming and data analytics.
“Everything we do in this building is about innovation,” said Steven Kahla, Ph.D., LSC-University Park vice president, Instruction. “We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve and prepare students for the jobs they’re going to have when they leave here.” 
Quebec Delegation in Houston representatives, including Steven Jast, delegate; Ozlem Tuncel, economic affairs director; and Eglantine Pauvarel Moss, commercial attaché, toured the facility and visited with Kahla, Matthew Dempsey, Ed.D., LSC-University Park president, and Iesheia Wilson, LSCS Board of Trustees secretary.
Guests had the opportunity to see hands-on learning environments where students are trained to operate, troubleshoot and repair technology such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and computer numerical control (CNC) machines. The Innovation Lab also offers access to 3D printers, laser cutting and engraving machines, poster printing, and virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology that enhances educational experiences in programs across the campus. 
“Lone Star College System develops programs that mirror professional settings so our students know what to expect in their future careers,” Dempsey said. “We built out a courtroom space for our criminal justice and paralegal students here at LSC-University Park; cybersecurity students attend classes in an office environment at LSC-Westway Park Technology Center; and nursing students at multiple campuses learn in simulation labs modeled after local hospitals.”
The Quebec Delegation in Houston works in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Its purpose is to facilitate exports from Quebec companies, support two-way foreign direct investment, promote the French language and culture, and advocate for or against legislation affecting Quebec interests. This is one of about 30 delegations operating worldwide under the Ministry of International Relations of Quebec.
According to Jast, Texas has a long-standing trading relationship with Quebec, with bilateral trade reaching about $15 billion annually. Several of Quebec’s interests, including artificial intelligence, robotics, technology and manufacturing, align with programs offered at LSCS. The delegation could connect LSCS leadership and students to Quebec-based companies, colleges and conferences.
“We like to meet with organizations that fit well with what we’re doing and learn about their initiatives to see where there’s any opportunity for collaboration,” Jast said. 
Learn more about LSC-University Park’s Energy & Manufacturing Institute at LoneStar.edu/EMI.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2025 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, six centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.