The growth of our UBC School of Engineering has been momentous since its start in 2005. The school has earned full accreditation in all three engineering programs: Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. We have graduated a growing list of undergraduate and graduate students. It is an exciting time at the School as we celebrate the accomplishments of all our students, faculty and staff, and watch our alumni make their mark on the world.

The UBC School of Engineering has grown to a remarkable number of 680 undergraduate and 150 graduate students, and we have also seen a great deal of growth in research and teaching infrastructure. Our students are supported by 37 faculty and 14 support staff members who are fully dedicated and committed to fulfilling our goals. The School moved into the new Engineering, Management & Education building in 2011. This $68-million complex houses the latest in laboratory equipment to enhance student and faculty work, with more than 14,500 square metres of space for research, labs and classrooms. Our University has made an investment of more than $2 million in undergraduate laboratory equipment and our faculty have been awarded more than $15 millionfor research infrastructure and operation through highly competitive national grants.

Much of this growth would not have been possible without the support of industry, and the UBC School of Engineering takes pride in its close connections with its industry sponsors for both research activities and student work experience programs. The Co-op Program has become a very successful option for undergraduate students and our relationships with industry have been integral to the success. At the same time, industry sponsors have provided real-world engineering problems for 4th-year students in their Capstone Design project course, where students put all their technical and communication skills together to provide working engineering solutions for their industry sponsors. The course is a great success.

The progress made in the first six years of the UBC School of Engineering has been exceptional. The successes of the School would not have been possible without the support from our Dean, Provost and DVC, and I predict even greater successes are in our future given our outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners.

Best regards,
Spiro Yannacopoulos, Ph.D., P.Eng.

to top

Last reviewed 9/14/2011 1:37:09 PM