Engaging Education at the Global Engineering Conference

Hello all those in cyber space! I hope you are enjoying March so far!

One of the cool things about university is the plethora of opportunities that present themselves. The biggest piece of advice I got in first year was “get involved”. I bet many of you have heard that in high school too. Experience is very important for engineers, and all students for that matter. In the working world, engineers in particular wear many different hats and have to fill many different roles. From efficiency calculations, to financial reporting, to presentations, we are expected to be adaptable. There is a new concept for this type of engineer: the Global Engineer.


On March 2, the Engineers Without Borders chapter at McMaster hosted a Global Engineering conference around re-framing your education. We brought in speakers and facilitators from Hamilton to Kingston, to give students an opportunity to see how approaching problems from different perspectives and how engineering fits into things outside the technical realm. Engineering problems benefit from an understanding of business, law, history – you name it!

Students from McMaster, as well as some from the University of Waterloo, University of Windsor and the University of Toronto, participated in learning sessions that provided ideas and tools around engaging their education through experiences. There was also a panel discussion between the Dean of Engineering here at Mac and York University, a representative from the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board and an engineering professor/motivational speaker.

If you want to learn a bit more about the 2013 Global Engineering Conference, check out the website at http://mcmaster.ewb.ca/gec2013/index.html. Hope to see you at next year’s conference!

Global Engineering is one of the venture areas of Engineers Without Borders Canada, an organization that works towards social change in an effort eliminate poverty through accelerating development in rural Africa and policy change here in Canada.  We have chapters in universities, cities and companies across Canada! To learn more about Engineers Without Borders, click here: http://www.ewb.ca/

Later days,
Daniela

A Different Resolution than 800px x 600px

Happy New Year! I hope your 2013 will be your best odd-numbered year to date!

Many of you have probably made some type of New Year’s Resolution. Maybe you want to try a new sport, or lay off the chocolate. Maybe even hit the gym once in a while.

As for me, and quite a few fellow students I know, our goal for 2013 is to improve academically. This could mean develop better study habits, get help when you think you need it and make sure you stay on top of your work.

The funny thing is, most resolutions we make are goals that we think we must do individually – that we have to “go it alone”. We tend to forget about the support system that exists for us; whether it’s friends, family, or your institution.

Here at McMaster, the Faculty of Engineering offers many ways to support your academic goals:

• 'Profs':

Your professor is there to teach you. He or she even schedules hours for you to go ask them questions. Many students do not take advantage of office hours – don’t let that be you!

• Study Sessions:

The McMaster Engineering Society has set up study sessions with ‘upper years’ to help ‘first years’ prepare for tests and exams. How sweet is that? You can work with people who have already been through what you have! You can always set up a study group of your own with your friends as well.

Some people prefer to study in groups.
These Eng girls studying in  Thode, the Engineering and Science Library.

•   Eng I SUCCESS:

It is a great time to be a first year at McMaster! New this year is something called the ENG I SUCCESS Initiative, where first years that may have not done so hot in their term one courses have an opportunity to upgrade their marks and improve their study skills!

And if these options don’t get you where you want to be, there are  academic advisors in Engineering Student Services to help you out. University may seem like an intimidating place on the outside, but there is a huge network and support system waiting for you.

Good luck this year! Keep sticking to your resolutions to find your way to success!

Later days,

~ Daniela