A new kind of engineer

Five-year plan aims to build leading national school

The Schulich School of Engineering has built on support from its faculty members, staff, students and industry connections to chart a course to bring the school into the top echelons of engineering schools in Canada.

The new strategic plan, based on a vision of a broadly educated, globally minded engineer, was unveiled Feb 27.

The Schulich engineer is defined as more than a technical expert. The engineering school is investing in well-rounded students by teaching creative problem-solving skills, leadership qualities and international awareness, on top of technical expertise. Award-winning design courses and a legion of clubs and teams provide hands-on learning experiences to cultivate those abilities.

"The needs of industry are changing,” says David Elgie, chair of the Schulich Industry Advisory Council. “The leadership program in the Schulich School of Engineering is an excellent example of the innovative programming that makes this engineering school so vital to the well-being of the engineering profession now and in years to come.” 

Dean Elizabeth Cannon said the school has very strong relationships with the engineering sector in Calgary, which is one of the strongest in North America. “They have helped to guide this vision, so we can continue to make research and technological advances in partnership with industry and to graduate the highest quality engineers.”

The five-year plan will align four elements required to achieve the school’s goals: enrich student experiences; build research capacity in key areas; strengthen links to industry in Calgary and beyond; and develop the physical and cultural environment required to support these goals.

For more information, go to www.schulich.ucalgary.ca.

Elizabeth Cannon
Dean, Schulich School of Engineering

Why did the school need a new strategic plan?
Several significant factors have changed the environment shaping the engineering school.  First, we had an infusion of funding a few years ago. The transformational naming gift from Seymour Schulich launched a new era in the school’s growth and development. This was at a time when the city of Calgary was, and still is, experiencing extraordinary economic growth. There is also an unprecedented need worldwide for the kind of high-quality engineers that Canadian universities produce. We needed to take stock, assess the options and have a focused plan for truly excelling with the opportunity that has been given to us.

What are the four main features of the plan?
1. Recruit high-achieving students with diverse talents and backgrounds, and educate them to become agile engineers for today’s workplace through high quality, innovative academic programs and diverse student experiences.
2. Accelerate research excellence and the impact of that high-calibre research, measuring against the highest international standards in strategically targeted areas.
3. Build a dynamic learning and research environment through human and physical resources and school culture.
4. Increase the school’s linkages in the Calgary community and expand relationships across Canada and beyond.

What impact will it have on students?
Students will see the impact in the enrichment available to them, some of which is underway—a leadership program and a half-million-dollar annual student travel and activity fund, for example. We also plan to provide state-of-the-art teaching and hands-on educational facilities. On the academic side, there will be a new research chair in innovative engineering education, where findings will be applied to curriculum issues. Also, we have initiated things like cash prizes for teaching excellence.

What impact will it have on faculty?
The research community will see the launch of 15 new research chairs over the next five years. The space to house and support them is also part of this plan. The areas of research focus will be built in areas where we already have an internationally respected reputation or in which we have a good chance of success.

What sets the Schulich School of Engineering apart?
We aspire to hire and educate the Schulich Engineer—individuals whose skills and training lead to a role in the workplace—in society—that go “beyond engineering.”

How will you measure success?
We never move too far or too fast without getting feedback from the companies that are partnering in research and hiring our graduates. This is one of the enormous advantages that we have being in the “engineering capital of Canada.” So, we would hope that success will be measured not only by the deliverables set out each year in the business plan—number of students, academic success of students, research funding and results, and so on—but also from constant feedback.