ENGINEERING CO-OP PROGRAM

ENGINEERING
CO-OP PROGRAM
2010/2011 Year End Report

CONTENTS
Program OverView
Dean’s Message 4
Program Director’s Message 5
Program Overview 6
Global Opportunities 7
Student Salary Averages 7
Engineering Programs
Chemical and Biological Engineering 10
Civil Engineering 11
Computer Engineering 11
Electrical Engineering 12
Environmental Engineering 12
Geological Engineering 13
Integrated Engineering 14
Materials Engineering 14
Mechanical Engineering 15
Mining Engineering 16
Master of Engineering 17
Master of Software Systems 17
EVents
Graduation Reception 21
Junior Reception 21
Award Winners 22-23
Sponsorship Program Initiatives 23
2
UBC Okanagan 18-19

3

DEAN’S
MESSAGE
Dear Engineering Co-op partners,
Thank you for supporting UBC Engineering Co-op throughout the
2010/2011 academic year. Your active partnership—as employer,
student or faculty member—is essential to the program’s success.
Thank you to our industry partners for your incredible ongoing
support through the good times and the bad times! Because of
your support, we have been able to provide our students with
invaluable industry work experience. We continue to explore new
opportunities to enhance the services we provide. For example,
in the near future we hope to approach you with the opportunity
to define specific challenges that would require an “Engineering
Co-op team” rather than one Co-op student. With the right team in
place and under your guidance, we know our students can take on
greater challenges as a team and deliver a complete solution for
you. We are very proud of the trust you have placed in us and the
support you have provided throughout the economic downturn. We
continue to count on your support as the economy recovers.
Thank you to our students. You have been exceptional representatives
of UBC. We are proud of the contribution you are making to
our society, even before you graduate. We know that this Co-op
experience will be one that you will build on as you advance in
your education and your profession. We continue to explore new
opportunities for you. During the past year, we implemented a new
stream through which you can now use a Co-op term to work for your
own business, developing new product ideas under the mentorship
of local entrepreneurs with established success records.
Thank you to our faculty members. Your connection to the program
ensures we continue to achieve our educational goals as we deliver
on our commitment to industry.
Considering this symbiotic relationship, a relationship dedicated
to enhancing the quality of the educational experience of future
engineers and to serving the needs of industry, it is no surprise
that UBC Engineering Co-op has been on a trajectory of expansion
over the past several years. It serves both UBC’s Vancouver
and Okanagan campuses and industries not only in the Lower
Mainland and Okanagan regions of British Columbia, but stretches
across Canada and indeed reaches out to the whole world.
Whether you are an industry partner providing that practical
experience, a student gaining practical experience or a faculty
member overseeing the two, you are helping us collectively make
a world of difference by helping prepare our future engineers for
their roles and responsibilities in serving society upon graduation.
Thank you for your continued trust in the UBC Engineering Co-op
Program.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tyseer Aboulnasr, O.ONT., FCAE, FEIC, P.Eng.
Dean, Faculty of Applied Science
Professor, Electrical Engineering
4 4

Director’s
Message
Dear Co-op Supporters,
It is my great pleasure to present the UBC Engineering Co-operative
Education Program’s achievements and overall update in the
2010/2011 Year End Report. The University of British Columbia
truly is a Place of Mind and our Engineering Co-op students are
contributing by using their engineering talents to help solve realworld
problems.
This year our Engineering Co-op students secured a total of 1,350
four-month Co-op work terms; a four per cent increase compared to
the previous year. This is a very positive sign as it shows that the
economy and job market is slowly recovering from the recession
that began in 2008. We also welcomed new Co-op students into the
program this year: 403 second-years and 60 Master of Engineering
students. They have all worked hard to prepare for their Co-op job
searches and will embark on their first work terms in May 2011.
Congratulations to our 263 Vancouver and 25 Okanagan Co-op
students who successfully graduated with Co-op standing. We wish
them the best as they set out on exciting career paths. The 2011
graduating classes have participated in over 1,208 Co-op work terms
- totaling over 4,832 months of relevant, technical, industry work
experience. They have collectively earned over $15.5 million dollars
in salaries during their time in the Engineering Co-op Program.
The School of Engineering at the UBC campus in Kelowna received
full accreditation in 2010 and the first Engineering graduates
celebrated convocation in May 2010. At the Vancouver campus, we
had several exciting developments which included officially moving
into our renovated offices at the Pulp and Paper Centre. This space is
designed for Co-op employers, students and staff. It includes seven
interview rooms, a boardroom and employer lounge. We launched
a new Employer Recruitment Guide, available in print and online,
to promote the Engineering Co-op Program both here and abroad.
The website received a fresh look and is now easier to navigate.
The UBC Faculty of Applied Science and UBC Engineering Co-op
Program recognize and support student-initiated entrepreneurship
and launched a new Co-op Entrepreneurship initiative this year. We
are pleased to be able to provide the opportunity for Engineering
Co-op students who are interested in starting their own business
to count one or more of their Co-op terms as Entrepreneurial Co-op
work term experiences.
A note of recognition and thanks is extended to our Co-op employers
in Australia who were affected by floods and in Japan by earthquakes
and the tsunami. They were of great assistance in ensuring the
safety of our students who were working in these areas during a very
difficult period.
On behalf of the UBC Engineering Co-op Program, I would like
to extend a big thank you to our students, employers, faculty and
alumni. We value your continued support of the program. If you
have any feedback, suggestions or questions on the program, please
contact me directly at 604-822-6598 or jenny.reilly@ubc.ca.
Sincerely,
Jenny Reilly
Director, UBC Engineering Co-op Program
5 5

Program Overview
UBC Engineering Co-op students participated in a total of 1,350 work terms where they gained relevant,
technical and paid engineering experience in the 2010/2011 academic year. This year’s four per cent
increase in the number of work terms secured is a positive reflection of the recent economic recovery.
Sixty-two per cent of Co-op students worked within the Lower Mainland of B.C., 14 per cent within B.C.
and 16 per cent within other Canadian provinces and territories. The remaining eight per cent of Co-op
students ventured abroad and obtained international Co-op work term experience.
2000
Work Term Statistics 1994 to 2011
TOTAL NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
1500
1000
500
0
94/95
95/96
96/97
97/98
98/99
99/00
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
05/06
06/07
07/08
08/09
09/10
10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
Industry Distribution
Provincial Agency 6%
Provincial Government 1%
1% Federal Agency
3% Federal Government
5% Municipal Government
2% Non Profit Organization
By and large, the private sector ranging
from consulting, mining, software
development, academic research and
construction, provided the most Co-op
Engineering opportunities to 82 per
cent of students. The public sector,
including municipal, provincial and
federal agencies, accounted for 16 per
cent while two per cent of opportunities
were in non-profit.
82% Private Business
6

Global Opportunities
In 2010/2011 a total of eight per cent or 105 Co-op work terms were
secured in 17 countries. Co-op students from all Engineering disciplines
had the opportunity to combine their Co-op work experiences with travel
interests during their international work term experiences. A majority of
students worked in Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and the United States.
However, students also ventured to unique destinations including
Ecuador, Malawi, Sri Lanka,Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates.
In 2010/2011 UBC Engineering Co-op
students employed in Canada reported
an average monthly salary of $3,202.
Co-op students collectively earned an
impressive $17 million in salaries,
up three million from last year. The
following table shows the mean
monthly salary for UBC Engineering
Co-op students from our UBC
Vancouver and Okanagan campuses
who participated in domestic industry
Engineering Co-op work terms.
Student Salary Averages
Discipline 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year
Chemical & Biological $2,566 $3,134 $3,796
Civil $2,948 $3,121 $3,321
Computer $2,638 $2,863 $2,966
Electrical $2,735 $2,942 $2,962
Environmental $2,552 $2,814 $2,899
Geological $3,121 $3,136 $3,271
Integrated $2,305 $2,890 $3,161
Mechanical $2,712 $2,830 $3,184
Materials $2,350 $3,065 $3,126
Mining $3,570 $3,909 $3,995
Masters of Software Systems N/A N/A $3,538
Master of Engineering N/A N/A $3,213
Please note: these figures do not include academic or international salaries and do not show the variances between small and large industries.
7

engineering
Programs
8

WORK TERMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
BY CO-OP STUDENTS SINCE 1980
OF CO-OP EMPLOYERS INTERESTED
IN HIRING CO-OP GRADUATES
CO-OP EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS
the 2010 Graduating CO-OP STUDENTS COLLECTIVELY EARNED
IN SALARIES
9

Chemical and Biological Engineering
www.chbe.ubc.ca
Option Specializations
• Biological Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Process Engineering
With over 109 Chemical and Biological Engineering
Co-op students successfully securing work terms
last year, the program increased by nine per cent
compared to the previous year. Chemical and
Biological Engineering Co-op students continue
to enhance their strong background knowledge in
the physical sciences, mathematics, and process
engineering. Through options in Biological,
Environmental and Process Engineering programs,
students have been exposed to a variety of unique
opportunities and industry knowledge ranging from
biotechnology, municipal wastewater management,
environmental testing and process engineering in
the oil and gas sector.
The oil and gas sector once again provided the
most opportunities for students, hiring over 19
per cent, while positions in research and design
related to the manufacture of fuel cells saw steady
increases in 2010/2011. The majority of Co-op
students worked in the Lower Mainland of B.C.,
while ten per cent ventured outside Canada to
accept positions in Japan, Peru, Korea, Taiwan and
various locations in the United States of America.
historical work terms
150
120
90
60
30
0
94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
industry distribution
4% Government
Mining/Metals Refining 8%
9% Academic Research
13% Other
Oil & Gas 19%
Manufacturing/R&D - Various 22%
25% Consulting - Various
10

civil Engineering
www.civil.ubc.ca
www.ubc.ca/okanagan/engineering
Option Specializations
• Environmental Engineering
300
270
historical work terms
Throughout the 2010/2011 year, 262 Co-op work terms were
secured by the Civil Engineering Co-op students. During
the fall 2010 and winter 2011 work terms, 100 per cent
of students seeking employment were successful in finding
suitable positions. The large majority of students worked
within the Lower Mainland of B.C. Twenty-two per cent worked
across Canada and seven per cent travelled further afield to
international destinations including Australia, Germany, Hong
Kong and New Zealand.
Civil Engineering Co-op students worked on a variety of
projects. A few noteworthy opportunities included the design
and construction of bridges and roads for infrastructure
upgrades across Canada. Government and municipal offices
provided 68 Co-op work terms in departments such as marine
structures, fisheries and oceans, traffic, utilities and waste
management. In Hong Kong, some students were involved
in a large drainage project utilizing the revolutionary Tunnel
Boring Machine while those in Australia were exposed to a
variety of geotechnical testing relative to exploration and
mining. Locally, students were involved with various aspects
of the Port Mann/Highway #1 upgrade.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
240
210
180
150
120
90
60
30
0
94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
Materials Testing 8%
Government 23%
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
Utility Company 3%
8% Other
17% Construction
41% Consulting - Various
Computer Engineering
www.ece.ubc.ca
Option Specializations
• Software Engineering
150
historical work terms *
A total of 110 Computer Engineering Co-op students
successfully obtained work terms in 2010/2011. The results
were extremely positive for the fall 2010 and winter 2011
terms whereby 100 per cent of students obtained employment.
These students developed their hands-on skills in software
testing and development. They also gained insights and
industry knowledge in a wide variety of industries including
aviation, biomedical software and telecommunications.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
135
120
105
90
75
60
45
30
Reflecting the upward trend in the software industry, the
total number of job postings increased by three per cent from
1,369 to 1,412 compared to the previous year. There were
new Co-op employers in the alternative energy, biomedical
and semiconductor field joining the Co-op program providing
software-related experiences in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
While a large majority of Co-op students remained in the Lower
Mainland of B.C., seven per cent travelled abroad to Hong
Kong, Japan, Taiwan and the United States of America.
15
0
00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09
ACADEMIC YEAR
*Prior to 2000/2001, the Electrical and Computer Engineering programs were combined.
industry distribution
5% Academic Research
7% Telecommunications
09/10
10/11
10% Other
7% Finance, Insurance / Real Estate
2% Government
49% Software Development
20% Manufacturing/R&D - Various
11

Electrical Engineering
www.ece.ubc.ca
www.ubc.ca/okanagan/engineering
Option Specializations
• Biomedical Engineering
• Electrical Energy Systems Engineering
• Nanotechnology and Microsystems Engineering
Electrical Engineering Co-op students completed a total of
194 work terms, a slight decrease compared to 2009/2010.
However, 100 per cent of students successfully obtained
employment for the fall 2010 and winter 2011 work terms.
They gained hands-on industry experience in research and
development, software, finance, telecommunications and
consulting. Notable projects included B.C. Place electrical
upgrades, iPhone application developments, high level policy
research for electrical energy systems and GPS field testing.
Eighty per cent of Electrical Engineering Co-op students
remained in the Lower Mainland of B.C. while 15 per cent
relocated within British Columbia and Canada. Five per cent
gained international experience in Germany, Hong Kong,
Sri Lanka and the United States of America.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
350
315
280
245
210
175
140
105
70
35
0
historical work terms *
94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
*Prior to 2000/2001, the Electrical and Computer Engineering programs were combined.
industry distribution
8% Academic Research
5% Utility Company
7% Telecommunications
11% Consulting - Various
26% Software Development
12% Other
10% Aerospace/Aviation
21% Manufacturing/R&D - Various
Environmental
www.enve.ubc.ca
A total of 19 Environmental Engineering Co-op students gained
Co-op experiences in 2010/2011. In summer 2010, 80 per
cent of the Co-op students secured employment while the fall
2010 and winter 2011 work terms were very successful with a
100 per cent success rate respectively.
Students worked on projects ranging from groundwater
monitoring to analyzing the performance of fuel cell membranes.
This was the first year that Environmental Engineering Co-op
students began working in the mining industry and the results
have been positive. Fifty-eight per cent of Co-op students
worked outside of the Lower Mainland of B.C. while 42 per
cent relocated within British Columbia, Alberta and the United
States of America.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
25
20
15
10
5
0
historical work terms
05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
16% Utility Company
5% Government
11% Professional Services
31% Consulting - Various
32% Mining-Metals Refining
5% Academic Research
12

Geological Engineering
www.geoeng.ubc.ca
Option Specializations
• Applied Geophysics Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Minerals and Fuels Exploration Engineering
As the year progressed for the summer 2010, fall
2010, and winter 2011 terms, the percentage of
students securing work increased from 79 to 100 per
cent to 100 per cent respectively. In 2010/2011,
30 Geological Engineering Co-op students were
engaged in projects including analyzing soil in labs
to monitoring tailings dam in the Alberta oil sands.
The majority of students worked in geotechnical
and environmental consulting, they also worked
for mining companies and were also involved in
materials testing for the construction industry.
50
45
historical work terms
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
00/01
01/02
02/03
03/04
04/05
05/06
06/07
07/08
08/09
09/10
10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
3% Oil & Gas
20% Construction
27% Mining/Metals Refining
17% Consulting - Various
33% Materials Testing
13 13

Integrated Engineering
www.igen.ubc.ca
In 2010/2011, 23 Integrated Engineering Co-op work
terms were secured - a 30 percent decrease compared to
the previous year. The UBC Integrated Engineering Program
provides students with a project focused, design-based,
interdisciplinary education with a strong technical foundation.
Integrated Engineering Co-op students enter the engineering
workforce with enhanced team-based design experience
through core courses and elective courses in at least two of
the traditional engineering disciplines.
Some of the innovative projects Co-op students were involved
in included the design and testing of high-tech snowboarding
goggles in Whistler, sophisticated laser research in Germany,
building envelope assessments in Alberta and fuel cell
prototype testing in the Lower Mainland of B.C.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
01/02
historical work terms
02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
9% Professional Services
8% Other
13% Academic Research
13% Construction
31% Manufacturing/R&D - Various
22% Consulting - Structural/Architecture
4% Government
Materials Engineering
www.mtrl.ubc.ca
Option Specializations
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Manufacturing and Performance Engineering
• Minerals and Metals Extraction Engineering
In 2010/2011, 36 Materials Engineering Co-op students
secured work term experiences in a variety of industries. Total
work term numbers steadily climbed from 72, 89 and 100 per
cent for the summer 2010, fall 2010 and winter 2011 terms
respectively.
Materials Engineering Co-op students gained experience on
projects ranging from quality control for aluminum casting to
pulp fiber testing. They worked mostly with companies related
to the automotive and the resource industries. Students
worked in fuel cell laboratories, aluminum, manufacturing and
steel plants, as well as academic research positions.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
100
80
60
40
20
0
historical work terms
95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
6% Agriculture
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
22% Mining/Metals Refining
30% Academic Research
3% Materials Testing
6% Other
19% Manufacturing/R&D - Various 14% Consulting - Various
14

Mechanical Engineering
www.mech.ubc.ca
www.ubc.ca/okanagan/engineering
Option Specializations
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering
• Thermofluids Engineering
In 2010/2011, the Mechanical Engineering Co-op
program began to see some stabilization in
employment opportunities after experiencing a
decline in opportunities since the 2008 economic
recession began. Although there continued to be
challenges for students, because of the economic
recovery, 285 Mechanical Engineering students
were successful in securing work terms.
The majority of Co-op students were employed in
manufacturing, consulting (with sub-concentration
in HVAC) and academic research with the greatest
concentration of work terms in Metro Vancouver,
followed by international locations. Forty-one
students gained enriching cooperative education
experiences in a variety of countries including
Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan and the United
Arab Emirates.
While Co-op provides industrial experience
enhancing students’ theoretical and project
courses, our students are also developing and
applying their engineering skill sets through active
involvement in the Engineering student teams
(e.g. Thunderbots, Formula SAE, Aerodesign Heavy
Lift and SAE Supermilage car), competitions
(e.g. Western Engineering Competition) and clubs
such as Engineers Without Borders.
400
historical work terms
360
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
320
280
240
200
160
120
80
40
0
93/94 94/95 95/96 96/97 97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
10% Mining/Metals Refining
4% Oil & Gas
9% Academic Research
14% Other
5% Construction
37% Manufacturing/R&D-Various
17% Consulting - Various
4% Aerospace/Aviation
15

Mining Engineering
www.mining.ubc.ca
Option Specializations
• Mining Engineering
• Processing Engineering
The mining industry provided clear evidence of
economic recovery and what was in store for the future.
A total of 86 Mining Engineering Co-op students
secured Co-op work terms, a six per cent increase
compared to the previous year. For the summer
2010, fall 2010 and winter 2011 terms, placements
increased from 89, 100 to 100 per cent respectively.
Students were involved in mining commodities
such as copper, coal, diamonds, potash, gold, oil,
molybdenum, nickel, zinc, and uranium. Tasks that
students were assigned ranged from underground drill
and blast design to haul truck cycle studies. Fourteen
per cent of students worked in the Lower Mainland of
B.C. while the remaining 87 per cent relocated within
Canada or worked abroad.
100
90
historical work terms
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
7% Oil & Gas
8% Academic Research
12% Consulting - Various
73% Mining/Metals Refining
16

Master of Engineering
www.engineering.ubc.ca/meng
SPECIALIZATIONS OF MASTER OF ENGINEERING
• Biomedical
• Geological
• Chemical & Biological • Materials
• Civil
• Mechanical
• Clean Energy
• Mining
• Electrical & Computer
The Master of Engineering is a course-based professional program
designed for Engineering graduates who wish to complement engineering
courses with management knowledge. Since its inception in 2007, the
program’s enrollment numbers have grown significantly. In less than five
years, the total number of work terms secured grew from five to 73 work
terms. In comparison to 2009/2010, the program saw over a 300 per
cent increase in part to the addition of the Master of Engineering in Clean
Energy program.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
75
60
45
30
15
0
historical work terms
07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
In its first year, the Clean Energy program’s 12 Co-op students successfully
completed Co-op work terms starting in summer 2010 and gained handson
experience in Clean Energy Engineering with a variety of employers
across BC and in Germany. The program is targeted to students who are
interested in advanced training related to environmentally-advantageous
energy-efficient technologies — technologies that will help meet the
global need for energy while reducing electricity and greenhouse gases
and other emissions.
industry distribution
5% Municipal Government
11% Provincial Agency
Sixty-three per cent of the Master of Engineering Co-op students
remained in the Lower Mainland of B.C., 22 per cent worked within
British Columbia and 11 per cent were located within Canada. Four per
cent gained international experience in Germany and the United States
of America.
84% Private Business
Master of Software Systems
www.icics.ubc.ca/mss
In fall 2010, 25 Master of Software Systems Co-op students
enrolled in the program and 100 per cent successfully
secured Co-op work terms. The UBC Engineering Co-op
Program facilitates a mandatory four-month Co-op work
term placement for the Master of Software Systems Degree
Program, administered through UBC’s Institute for Computing,
Information and Cognitive Systems (ICICS). Master of Software
Systems have completed an undergraduate degree in science,
engineering or social sciences and bring a multidisciplinary
approach and international industry experience to the work
environment.
The students assisted with the development and testing of
software for the finance and real estate, telecommunication,
semiconductor and business intelligence industries in
the Lower Mainland of B.C. and across Canada. While the
majority of the students worked in the Lower Mainland of
B.C., one relocated to Seattle, Washington while eight others
worked in Kelowna, Calgary, Markham, Mississauga, Ottawa
and Waterloo.
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
historical work terms
30
27
24
21
18
15
12
9
6
3
0
00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10
ACADEMIC YEAR
industry distribution
12% Other
12% Academic Research
4% Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
8% Consulting - Various
4% Telecommunications
10/11
16% Manufacturing/R&D - Various
40% Software Development
4% Oil & Gas
17

engineering
ubc okanagAN
18

UBC OKANAGAN - Civil, Electrical & Mechanical
www.ubc.ca/okanagan/engineering
The UBC Okanagan Engineering Program celebrated
the graduation of 25 Engineering Co-op students with
Co-op standing on their degree parchments this year.
A total of 114 Co-op work terms were successfully
secured by students in 2010/2011 in Civil, Electrical
and Mechanical Engineering at UBC Okanagan.
Construction and consulting sectors provided the most
opportunities for students, other students explored
opportunities within various government departments.
Students also secured work terms in mining,
manufacturing, academics and software development.
Twenty-two per cent of UBC Okanagan Engineering
Co-op students were employed in the Lower Mainland
of B.C. while the majority of students, 57 per cent,
worked in the Okanagan and different regions in British
Columbia. The remaining 20 per cent worked across
the rest of Canada and just one per cent of the students
gained international experience in Australia.
industry distribution
6% Academic Research
civil engineering
8% Transportation Operations
10% Materials Testing
8% Other
4% Mining/Metals Refining
21% Government
25% Construction
18% Consulting - Various
electrical engineering
10% Utility Company
20% Software Development
20% Government - Municipal
10% Manufacturing/R&D
- Computers/Electronics
10% Retail / Distributor
30% Consulting - IT Services
mechanical engineering
10% Oil & Gas
10% Academic Research
5% Wood Processing
10% Mining/Metals Refining
21% Construction
21% Manufacturing/R&D - Various
18% Consulting - Various
5% Pulp & Paper
NUMBER OF WORK TERMS
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
historical work terms
CIVIL
ELECTRICAL
MECHANICAL
0
07/08
08/09
09/10
10/11
ACADEMIC YEAR
19

engineering
Events
20

J u n i o r
R e c e p t i o n
The annual Junior Reception welcomed new Engineering Co-op students from all Engineering disciplines into the program. In 2010 a
total of 403 Engineering undergraduates, 359 from Vancouver and 44 from Okanagan, were invited to attend.
The fifth annual UBC Engineering Co-op Junior Reception in the Vancouver campus took place on January 26, 2011 and the fourth
annual reception in the Okanagan was on February 23, 2011. Both events provided an opportunity for Co-op students to celebrate the
start of their Engineering Co-op journey and to network with industry representatives.
G r a d u at i o n R e c e p t i o n
UBC Vancouver
The Engineering Co-op 2011 Graduation Reception was held on March 3rd at the Vancouver Marriot Pinnacle Hotel. A total of 263
Engineering Co-op graduates from all disciplines successfully graduated with Co-op standing. Students, faculty and industry representatives
enjoyed an evening of networking, food and festivities.
UBC Okanagan
The Engineering Co-op Graduating Class of 2011 from the Okanagan campus was celebrated by students, faculty and industry
representatives on March 16th at the Manteo Resort. A total of 25 Engineering Co-op students from the Okanagan successfully graduated
with Co-op standing.
21

Student, Faculty &
of the Year Award
Each year the Student, Employer and Faculty Member of the Year awards are presented to those who have
This year, the selection committee had the honour of presenting the awards to this year’s winners
Student of the Year
Vancouver
Naeem Mawji, Chemical and Biological Engineering Co-op student,
has actively engaged in his academics, his availing of opportunities
outside of the classroom, as well as his willingness to move beyond
the immediate community by taking part in an international service
learning project. Naeem has developed the skills and networks
necessary to support his interest in alleviating poverty and improving
the quality of life in rural Tanzania. He does this by providing
electrical power to these communities. Naeem’s idea germinated
through a UBC international service learning project and it has
now grown into a company that he co-founded. He has received
funding for the company from the World Bank. Naeem successfully
completed five work terms, three in industry with Syncrude Canada,
one in research with Dr. Tony Bi of the Dept. of Chemical and
Biological Engineering and his final work term with the company he
co-founded, Carbon X Energy, in Tanzania.
Okanagan
Holly Rourke, a Civil Engineering Co-op student, successfully
completed all five Co-op work-terms. She obtained her first
two with Thurber Engineering in the Lower Mainland of B.C.;
her third as a Research Assistant with an engineering faculty
member at the UBC Okanagan; and relocated across the Pacific
Ocean to Australia for her final two terms with SRK Consulting.
She received high praise from her previous employers and was
noted for her contributions. She has always managed to be
on the forefront whether it is the Engineering Co-op Student
Advisory Committee (ECSAC) or the UBC Okanagan Engineering
Undergraduate Society or helping a faculty member in Lab
development or coordinating efforts for Canadian Society
for Civil Engineering (CSCE) and Association of Professional
Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC) as a
UBC Okanagan representative.
Faculty of the Year
Vancouver
Dr. David Dreisinger is a respected professor in the Materials
Engineering Department, Vice President of Metallurgy for Baja
Mining, and the chair holder of the Industrial Research Chair in
Hydrometallurgy. Dr. Dreisinger has held the Research Chair for
nearly 20 years with over 20 current industry partners. At UBC,
he is actively involved in hydrometallurgy research. Not only
does he teach the subject to students but he has also facilitated
the development of students in the field by supervising graduate
students, research engineers as well as hiring Co-op students.
Over the past seven years, he has directly hired 14 Co-op
students to work on his research projects - 34 per cent of the
total hiring by the entire department during that period. He
is passionate about preparing students to be future leaders in
industry.
Okanagan
Dr. Mina Hoorfar has been an Assistant Professor at the University
of British Columbia Okanagan since 2005 and is the head of
the Advanced Thermo-Fluidic Laboratory (ATFL). Her key areas
of research are Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells,
Microfluidic Fuel Cells, Digital Microfluidics, Real-time Water
Quality Monitoring, and In Vitro Red Wine Characterization
through Interfacial Property Measurement. She earned a spot on
the prestigious Teaching Honor Roll at UBC Okanagan. She is a
strong supporter of the Co-op program and assists students in
pursuing their research aspirations through regular mentoring and
coaching. The ability to consistently recruit a high percentage of
students through NSERC USRA is due to her strong commitment
and encouragement. Dr. Hoorfar has hired four students since
2007 and has provided students practical and real-world related
work experiences in engineering along with exposure to publishing
and presenting papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
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Student of the Year, Naeem Mawji,
Chemical & Biological Engineering
Student of the Year, Holly Rourke,
Civil Engineering
Faculty of the Year, Dr. David Dreisinger,
Professor of Material Engineering
Faculty of the Year, Dr. Mina Hoorfar,
Assistant Professor, School of Engineering

Employer
Winners
made outstanding contributions to the Co-op Program.
at both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
Employer of the Year
Vancouver
Teck Resources, Canada’s largest diversified mining, mineral
processing and metallurgical company, has been an active
participant and supporter of the UBC Engineering Co-op Program
since 1995; providing over 600 work term opportunities to our
students. In 2010, Teck Resources hired 37 Co-op students
including 14 Mechanical, eight Mining, three Civil, three
Chemical, three Geological, three Electrical, two Environmental
and one Master of Engineering Mining. Teck Resources’
established Co-op program and presence amongst our students
is as strong today as it was when they first hired a UBC
Engineering Co-op student. They have provided outstanding
experiential work experiences to every level of engineering
student; while offering competitive salaries and unparalleled
preparation for the world after graduation.
Okanagan
Kiewit has been a leader in the engineering, construction and
mining industries throughout Canada since the early 1940s.
Since 2008 Kiewit has been proactive in their recruiting efforts
by conducting info sessions, on-site interviews and posting
and hiring with the UBC Engineering Co-op Program at the
Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. Kiewit has provided 28
Engineering Co-op placements since 2008 for 13 Civil and 15
Mechanical Engineering students. In 2010 Kiewit provided
relevant technical, engineering-related work experiences along
with competitive salaries to students of all levels — juniors,
intermediates and seniors for 14 UBC Okanagan students: four
Civil and four Mechanical.
Sponsorship
Program
Initiatives
This year the UBC Engineering Co-op Program raised
a phenomenal total of $35,500 through the marketing
of our comprehensive sponsorship package. This year’s
sponsors will enable the program to connect with
students, employers and faculty members throughout
the year at organized events and activities including:
• Junior Reception (UBC Vancouver & Okanagan)
• Graduation Reception (UBC Vancouver & Okanagan)
• National Co-op Week
• UBC Engineering Co-op Photo Contest
Platinum Sponsor
Goldcorp Inc.
Gold SponsorS
Grande Cache Coal
Peter Kiewit Infrastructure
Metro Vancouver
MDA Corporation
Teck
Silver SponsorS
CH2M Hill
FortisBC
Incognito Software Inc.
Jacobs - Aker Solutions
SNC-Lavalin
Bronze SponsorS
Ledcor
MMM Group
Employer of the Year, Teck
Ross Pritchard, Alberto Gonzalez,
Susan Stocker & Rudy Zdravlje
Employer of the Year, Kiewit
Johnny Phung
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CONTACT US
UBC ENGINEERING CO-OP PROGRAM
604.822.3022
250.807.9279
www.ubcengineeringcoop.com
Principal Design: Patrick Blaeser Principal Photography: Martin Dee