New study opportunities for Masters of Engineering students

Posted: April 13, 2015 6:00 a.m.

Celebrating the opening of the Masters of Engineering student lounge. Dr. Esam Hussein (front), Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science with students, professors and staff.
Celebrating the opening of the Masters of Engineering student lounge. Dr. Esam Hussein (front), Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science with students, professors and staff. (Photo - External Relations)

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science is taking steps to ensure that graduating MEng students make a smooth transition from the classroom to the workplace.

The Masters of Engineering Program (MEng) Faculty now offers three extra classes that will more greatly expose students to the practice of engineering in Canada.

“One of the motivations behind this is that a large number of our students are international students and may not be aware how engineering is practiced in Canada,” says Dr. Raphael Idem, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

“When students come here they want to be able to fit into the community and practice engineering. These courses will help the students in those areas,” he says.

For students, the new courses are laying a foundation for the future.
 
“It is really awesome for me. This course is very good. This course basically tells us what engineering is in Canada. How you should conduct yourself in engineering in this country” says Paul Ncharam who is from Nigeria and now in his second semester studying industrial engineering.  
 
The courses cover areas that include engineering practices in Canada, critical on-going professional development, communications and ethics. The courses will be taught by practicing engineers - members of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan - who could also act as mentors.

“We want the practicing engineers to share their knowledge and experience with the students. Making this part of the curriculum and learning this way means the students will be able to hit the ground running upon graduation,” says Dr. Idem, who adds such a program will make for a more productive co-op work experience for students.

In addition to the course changes, the faculty has also opened a MEng grad student lounge. This will provide a study space for MEng students as well as allow for engineering graduate students to hold meetings, host seminars and speakers, or to simply get to know each other better.

For details on the new courses (ENGG 701, 702 and 703) and the wide variety of program offerings offered by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, please visit here.  

Student success is one of the pillars of the University of Regina’s Strategic Plan. For the first time enrolment at the U of R surpassed 14,000 student this September.