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Experiential Learning – McMaster Engineering Graduates' Competitive Advantage
The proposed ExCEL building will host many opportunities for experiential learning for both undergraduate and graduate students, as seen in the space description below. The reason the Faulty of Engineering is so committed to providing such opportunities is that our interactions with employers suggest that they are looking for graduates with a wide range of capabilities. Strong technical skills are important, but the ability to work collaboratively and creatively is becoming just as critical when hiring new engineering graduates.
Graduates with the ability to offer leadership is an especially critical component for many positions that require an undergraduate degree, and even more so for positions requiring a graduate degree. Many of these non-technical skills are learned outside the classroom and this is why the Faculty of Engineering has made such a commitment to enhancing these learning experiences, as it will provide the competitive advantage to graduating McMaster engineering students when applying for positions to be the leaders and innovators of the future.
The Faculty of Engineering is committed to incorporating this experiential learning culture more effectively into the engineering student experience. This commitment will include developing programs such as a graduate version of the new leadership training program, SELECT, and fostering more graduate mentoring and collaborative opportunities. For undergraduates, this means a commitment to enhancing already existing opportunities as well as fostering more collaborative learning approaches.
Student support for the engineering student levy will enable the ExCEL building to offer space that will set McMaster Engineering students apart by providing the experiences that will develop the skill set employers are looking for.
ExCEL will offer:
- High Bay Assembly Space for large format projects (e.g vehicles)
- High Bay Workshops also for large format projects
- Collaborative Space for group study, project development
- Board Room
- Design Studios
- New Engineering Student Lounge and open seating spaces
- Storage Space
- Graduate Student Defence and Seminar Room
- Living Laboratory for Sustainable Technologies
In order to make this vision a reality, we are asking all current McMaster
Engineering students to make a statement that this facility is
important to them. We will therefore be holding a referendum in
March 2012, asking undergraduate students to approve a $50 per
year contribution levy for ExCEL. Full time graduate students
would contribute $30 per academic year. This will provide about
30% of the total capital needed to build ExCEL. For more detail
keep reading ....
Information on Engineering Student Referendum regarding
ExCEL Building Contribution Levy
The goal is to raise approximately 8 million dollars for the construction of the ExCEL Building and programs. From the Student Contribution Levy it is expected 2 to 2.5 million dollars will be collected. This contribution will be collected only from engineering students of McMaster University, including undergraduate students enrolled in the BEng and BTech programs as well as graduate students. The proposed amount to be contributed per academic year is $50 for undergraduate students and $30 for graduate students. The proposed length of time the contributions will be collected for the initial capital cost is 10 years. Collection of the contributions for the ExCEL building will not start until there has been a formal approval from the University for the Construction of ExCEL. This will not occur until the majority of the funding for the building has been committed. We anticipate that student contributions will start to be collected in the 2013-2014 academic year.
Benefits for Student Contribution to ExCEL BuildingCurrent proposed spaces within the ExCEL building include various spaces where the engagement in engineering related societies, clubs and teams will be easier to facilitate, enhancing the experiential learning opportunities they provide. These spaces will also provide more resources for course related and personal projects, allowing for an inclusive environment for all to foster students’ educational goals. |
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Download letter of intent »
