Thanks to a unique program created by the Faculty of Engineering, high school students from Ottawa-Gatineau and elsewhere can learn about engineering and information technology.
The CONTACT Learning Initiative has offered various activities throughout the school year since 1986. Aimed at high school teachers and students, the program seeks to raise the bar in terms of educational quality and variety and to promote the Faculty of Engineering as both an engineering and information technology school.
For example, students from the Faculty of Engineering who are affiliated with Engineers Without Borders led workshops in several schools on a number of occasions this fall. High school teachers can also ask a Faculty of Engineering professor to give a lecture at their school.
An abbreviated co-op placement program also offers high school students the possibility of completing an apprenticeship under the supervision of Faculty of Engineering professors. This allows them to work towards completing their volunteer work hours, required to receive their high school diploma, in addition to gaining a first-hand experience of student life in engineering. Several groups of students have received guided tours over the past few months, including 35 students from Montreal’s Académie Dunton, who spent November 23 on campus learning about robotics. The faculty even paid for transportation and meals!
Teachers can also request a grant (of up to $300) for science, math and computer projects carried out within the courses they teach.
All of these activities existed in some shape or form before the CONTACT program was put in place, explains Carine Stewart, Faculty of Engineering Liaison Officer, but activities are now grouped for greater efficiency. “The program requires the participation of all of the faculty’s partners, professors, dean, assistant deans, students, laboratory technicians,” says Stewart.
She points out that the faculty is probably the only one in Canada to use such a diversified approach to cultivate future students. Based on the growing demand for activities such as the co-op program and the Engineers Without Borders workshops, there is every reason to believe that positive results will ensue, adds Stewart.
“We would now like to increase our visibility and contact businesses about becoming sponsors.” People interested in sponsoring the program or teachers wanting to take advantage of the program opportunities can contact Carine Stewart.
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