Diversity and Outreach

Engineering Outreach

Engineering Outreach provides accessible, inclusive and transformational learning opportunities that inspire youth to pursue STEM careers.

The mission of Engineering Outreach is to engage with the community, spark curiosity and prepare K-12 students to build critical skills and confidence by making STEM learning opportunities accessible and inclusive to all youth, including those from underrepresented communities in the Durham Region and beyond. The team aims to foster and build a community that understands the importance of STEM education by developing impactful partnerships with community organizations. The goal is to increase youth’s digital literacy and skills development by delivering hands-on STEM education in schools and community hubs. In addition, the team strives to empower and support teachers and school leaders in their delivery of STEM education.

Learn More About Engineering Outreach.

27, 954

Engagements reached through our programs

50

Hired Staff

2,550

Girls Programs

2,180

Students through our Black Youth Programs

Teacher Programs

Engineering Outreach is excited to support and collaborate with teachers to deliver STEM programs and lessons in their classrooms. The curriculum now includes the design process, and Engineering Outreach is a forerunner in developing resources that encompass the new curriculum. The programs include in-school workshops, teacher workshops, and professional and skills development sessions. Engineering Outreach supports teachers by helping them navigate STEM learning within the classroom and, by extension, breaks down barriers and helps youth develop the confidence and skillsets required for their future careers.

This year, Engineering Outreach, in partnership with Engineers Canada and Engineers of Tomorrow, welcomed over 1600 youth to participate in the virtual Future Cities Experience Showcase. Students from the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board were invited to share their Lunar designs. Over 80 mentors and judges attended and gave feedback. Joshua Kutryk was the keynote speaker, and he joined in from the Canadian Space Agency. He discussed his journey of becoming an astronaut and shared how his team plans to go to the moon. The showcase uses the Engineering Design Process as a framework to guide students through creating their future cities. Students use specific project management methods within this framework to keep their projects on track. The structure gives students a real-world learning experience they can apply to future challenges in school, work and life.

Future Cities

Actua Partnership

Since 2018 Ontario Tech University Engineering Outreach has been a Network Member of Actua. This partnership has been a key part of the success and growth of Engineering Outreach over the last couple of years. Through this partnership, the youth K-12 within Durham Region have developed confidence and digital skills to prepare them for future STEM careers. We cherish this partnership based on our aligned goals to become leaders for inclusive and accessible STEM education.

IBET PhD Project

A new scholarship opportunity for Indigenous and Black graduate students.

In February of 2022, the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Ontario Tech University joined the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) Project. The IBET Project aims to support and build a network for Indigenous and Black graduate students, two significantly underrepresented groups in both academia and the engineering profession. It is a joint initiative launched by engineering faculties across the country to provide financial support and foster a supportive, equitable and inclusive research environment to increase the presence of Indigenous and Black academics in engineering and technology. The program at Ontario Tech is specific to PhD engineering programs offered at the university. It will begin by funding one PhD student in the 2022-2023 academic year, with the potential of adding a second fellowship in 2023-2024. Ontario Tech participants will receive $30,000 per year ($25,000 from the faculty/ university and $5,000 from their academic supervisor), with a further $11,000 being available in the form of a teaching assistantship.

Learn More About the IBET Project.

“We all have different lived experiences, and these differences foster new ways of thinking and facilitate new solutions to our most challenging and relevant problems. As we prepare the next generation of Canadian engineers, Ontario Tech University is proud the IBET PhD Project will promote a stronger presence of what is currently an underrepresented group of young scholars and support an environment in creating muchneeded role models for future engineers.”

Hossam Kishawy

Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science

Bruce Power Nuclear Engineering Internships for Women

Bruce Power and Ontario Tech University are partnering on an internship program to attract women to pursue post-secondary engineering degrees and careers in the nuclear sector.

Exclusively offering Canada’s only Nuclear Engineering university degree, Ontario Tech proudly announces the Bruce Power Engineering Internships for Women program. This partnership is designed to reach the target of gender equity by 2030 by promoting opportunities for women in traditionally maledominated positions. It will also provide valuable work experience to students pursuing careers in engineering. Through the program, fourmonth internship opportunities are available to Ontario Tech Nuclear Engineering students who identify as women, with up to 15 students interning each summer. The internship program will help create a diversified talent source, including female-identifying nuclear engineering students and graduates as potential hires for the energy company.

Learn More About the Internship Program.

Equal by 30

Equal by 30 is a campaign to take the actions necessary to make gender equality central to the engineering profession by promoting equal pay, enrollment, opportunities and leadership for women. There has long been gender disparity within the STEM fields, and Ontario Tech University is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent femaleidentifying individuals from pursuing engineering. The goal is to strive for equal representation of women faculty and students by 2030.