Provincial Engineering & Geoscience Week

8 | W I N N I P E G F R E E P R E S S P R O V I N C I A L E N G I N E E R I N G & G E O S C I E N C E W E E K T hanks to some well-placed friends, University of Manitoba engineering students benefit from the ongoing support of high-level industry experts. Friends of Engineering is an external organization made up of senior engineers from all sectors who are committed to achieving overall excellence in engineering education. For engineering dean Jonathan Beddoes, it's a successful arrangement for all involved. "Their primary objective is to provide their guidance to the faculty and work with us to make the faculty a world-class centre for engineering education and research. They do this because they recognize that the future success of their enterprises and the future success of manufacturing and industry in Manitoba is built upon a requirement of a steady supply of high-calibre engineers coming to them," Beddoes says. "Here at the University of Manitoba, we're the only supplier of accredited engineering graduates in Manitoba, so we work very closely with them on this objective." The group formed in 2008 after industry leaders successfully fundraised together for the University of Manitoba's Engineering and Information Technology Complex. Building on that momentum, they formalized the organization, which continues to meet at least once per month. The group of about 75 members has been instrumental in revamping and expanding the co-operative education program that is available to all University of Manitoba undergraduate engineering students. "In 2016, we'll do almost 400 paid work placements by students at more than 100 different employers across Manitoba as part of our co-op program," Beddoes says. "This is an increase of several times from what it was at the beginning of the decade." Adding to their ongoing support, Friends of Engineering provides prizes to students that focus on important attributes, such as technical communication and design education. They also provide a $2,000 award for the co-op student of the year. As well, the group helps students cover costs associated with engineering competitions that allow them to take their designs on the road. "This has a big influence on our students because our students are well aware that industry is supporting these endeavours within our faculty directly," Beddoes says. "Students will look at Friends of Engineering and the industries they represent as their future potential employers and where they might build their career." As a result of the support, the University of Manitoba boasts several student groups that are earning attention in North America and beyond. The automotive engineer student chapter is the largest of its type in the world, recently winning a prize for being one of the top international chapters. Likewise, a student chapter associated with the American Concrete Institute has earned recognition as one of the top chapters in North America. "I'm very proud of the accomplishments of our students and I'm very proud of the close relationship that we've built with Friends of Engineering. I think Friends of Engineering is one of the ways in which industries and the education sector in Manitoba connect in a very efficient and a very direct way," Beddoes says. "This is really quite unique in Manitoba. This is something that helps to make Manitoba stand apart and helps us to engage very directly with all of the industry sectors in Manitoba." This connection should be of interest to all Manitobans since engineering impacts almost every area of daily life. "It's all around you. If it didn't grow, then an engineer designed it," Beddoes says. "There's a very direct connection to engineering. If you take a look at the major manufacturing operations in Winnipeg and in Manitoba, most of them are heavily export driven, so those companies are bringing new wealth into Manitoba. Inherently, all of their products, regardless of what they are, are built on engineering excellence and engineering design." With input from Friends of Engineering, the engineering faculty continues to evolve to meet the needs of industries that fuel Manitoba's wealth and well-being. "I think we are making a real contribution to the competitive position of all companies in Manitoba through our graduates and through the transfer of technology — not just the brainpower that our graduates take them but the research and development that we undertake here at the university as well," Beddoes says. "I would think that there is hardly a person in Manitoba that hasn't been directly or indirectly touched by some of the work that's done here at the University of Manitoba in the faculty of engineering. I am very appreciative of the time all the members of Friends of Engineering devote to helping us make the faculty as good as it possibly can be." [ Friends in high places By Jennifer McFee for the Free Press Friends of Engineering gives prizes to students in areas such as technical communication and design education. The group also provides a $2,000 award for co-op student of the year. Friends of Engineering photo

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