Vice Chancellor's Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (Special Commendation)

The Devoted Engineering First-Year (DEFY) Team, a group of academic and professional staff members from the Faculty of Engineering, stands out as leaders in engineering education. Their unique approach to first-year engineering, which involved a comprehensive review from 2019 to 2021 and a subsequent redevelopment in 2022, aims to defy the complex challenges of modern engineering development. The first year’s focus on environmental, economic, ethical, and social considerations sets our student engineers apart.

The renewed first-year engineering program, a testament to our collective efforts, provides students with invaluable exposure to the principles of sustainable engineering and equips them with the critical knowledge and skills to tackle the multifaceted challenges in thriving communities. The program now offers immersion in exciting engineering tools and hardware, a dive into industry-related projects, and direct engagement with Indigenous communities. All these opportunities, which have significantly enhanced student learning and engagement, are supported at a large scale, with our common first-year program reaching up to 1500 students per year.