School of Sustainable Design Engineering welcomes first-ever, third-year cohort

The University of Prince Edward Island marked a milestone on September 10 when the School of Sustainable Design Engineering welcomed 12 students into the third year of study for its new Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering degree program. The first-ever, third-year cohort was part of an orientation day for all engineering students at Greenwich, Prince Edward Island National Park.

While engineering has a long history at UPEI, the four-year Sustainable Design Engineering degree was announced last year. The unique program has a project-based curriculum that puts a specialized focus on the design process across the various traditional engineering disciplines.

“The beginning of the academic year is always a special time at UPEI, but this week is especially meaningful as, for the first time in history, the University is offering a third-year engineering curriculum as part of our new four-year degree program,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. “These students, in 2017, will represent the first graduating class with a UPEI engineering degree.”

“Students attending UPEI this fall will be among the future leaders of Prince Edward Island. It is important that we are involved in helping them develop their potential,” Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning Richard Brown said. “We are so pleased to see PEI’s investment in the School of Sustainable Design Engineering take shape so quickly, and that the program is welcoming third-year students for the first time.”

Not only is having a third-year cohort new, but also offering it in 2015 was earlier than planned. Because a number of students expressed interest in continuing on to earn their degree at UPEI, the School responded by launching the third-year curriculum this year as opposed to next. Eight third-year students are from UPEI while four are from Saint Mary’s, Cape Breton, Dalhousie, and Brazil universities, respectively.

“I would like to thank the School’s faculty and staff for their strong commitment and determination in initiating this early launch of the third-year cohort,” said President Abd-El-Aziz.

It was also it was the first time the School held its orientation day off-campus. This development was due to the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Parks Canada and the University to explore common areas of interest. The first exploration as a result of the MOU has been with the School of Sustainable Design Engineering around a number of first-year student projects.

“UPEI is so excited to have forged a relationship with Parks Canada as we share similar values as public institutions,” added President Abd-El-Aziz. “This is the first time our Engineering program has worked directly with Parks Canada, becoming the School’s flagship ‘first-year student client’.”

At Greenwich, Engineering faculty hosted students to a number of activities as part of the School’s annual orientation. The students were introduced to the School’s faculty, many of them new to UPEI to accommodate the program expansion, as well to the curriculum and focus areas. The day fittingly included design-related challenges geared to team building and fun design innovation.

Associate Dean of Engineering Nicholas Krouglicof said, “This is a momentous year for UPEI’s new School of Sustainable Design Engineering. We are so pleased to be welcoming our new students and celebrating the introduction of our new four-year program at the Prince Edward Island National Park’s Greenwich site. We will undoubtedly have many more projects, partnerships, and success stories to celebrate in the future.”

Anthony Parker, a third-year UPEI engineering student from Enfield, Nova Scotia, who earned his diploma from Saint Mary’s University, summed it up, “I chose UPEI to complete my engineering degree as the design focus really suited me. The multidisciplinary aspects of program are really different as compared to what other schools offer. I am really enjoying UPEI campus life already and the orientation at Greenwich was a great way to kick the year off!”