UPEI announces new School of Sustainable Design Engineering
UPDATE: Read about the official groundbreaking ceremony here
UPEI held a special event today to unveil plans for its new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships, the first program of its kind in Canada. The Honourable Gail Shea was in attendance (on behalf of the Honourable Rob Moore, Minister of State responsible for ACOA); the Honourable Allen Roach, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning (on behalf of Premier Robert Ghiz); UPEI's President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz; and UPEI Board of Governors Chair Tom Cullen who acted as the event emcee.
'UPEI is undertaking a transformative approach to putting innovation into action,' said Abd-El-Aziz. 'We are creating a professional, engineering R&D workspace where students and faculty will work alongside industry clients to design solutions for global challenges.'
UPEI's School of Sustainable Design Engineering will focus on bioresources, mechatronics, and sustainable energy with programming designed for students who are eager to engage in hands-on learning by designing innovative, targeted solutions through a team-focused, project-based approach. Students will design sustainable processes, products, and systems that improve people's lives and better society. Students can choose from the two-year Engineering diploma or the new four-year Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering degree program.
In addition to the School's program, a new Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships will include four focused labs-food processing, sensory and sortation, sustainable energy, and robotics-where students and faculty can work on pilot-scale, industrial R&D projects.
Minister Roach announced the provincial government's $16 million commitment to the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering, while Minister Shea announced ACOA's contribution of close to $6 million for the new Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships.
'This initiative will help strengthen our university and provide us with a well-trained and knowledgeable engineering workforce, who are ready to start their careers,' said Minister Roach. 'This is a true example of collaboration between government and our leading post secondary institutions. This initiative will attract new students, improve the competitiveness of the institution, and contribute to the sustainability of UPEI.'
'The new Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships at UPEI fits perfectly with our Government's focus on innovation, productivity and competitiveness,' said Minister Shea. 'Atlantic Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises have identified a need to have this kind of design capacity and expertise in the region, and the Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships will benefit them directly, while it strengthens our research and design capacity to build a more innovative future right here in Atlantic Canada.'
Construction begins next week for the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Centre for Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships. More details on the building and construction will be announced at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, December 4.
