THE ENGINEER - Engineers Nova Scotia

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The goal of the CFES Academic Survey is to gain a fundamental understanding of how different stakeholders in engineering education perceive several key aspects of the undergraduate education experience in Canada. Three of these principal stakeholders included in this survey are the undergraduate students themselves, the academic staff in Canadian universities, and professional engineers who hire newly-graduated students. The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) has begun a process of switching the accreditation for undergraduate engineering programs to a graduate attribute-based system. The twelve attributes that new Engineers-in-Training are expected to have developed are: • A knowledge base for engineering • Communication skills • Problem analysis • Professionalism • Investigation • Impact of engineering on society and the environment • Design • Ethics and equity • Use of engineering tools • Economics and project management • Individual and team work • Life-long learning 12 The ENGINEER CFES (Canadian Federation of Engineering Students) Academic Survey Submitted by: JMichael Ross, CFES Academic Commissioner It is likely that there are discrepancies between how engineering students value each of these attributes, and how the professionals who train or hire them value the same traits. It is also possible that the attributes that are most needed by engineering professionals are not those that are most developed in the classroom, and it is further likely that there is a disconnect between what engineering students feel they are being taught compared to what engineering professors feel they are trying to teach. Discovering where and why these disconnects exist could be extremely valuable in making suggestions that could ultimately improve engineering education in Canada, especially while the new graduate attributes accreditation system is being implemented. Ultimately, the results of this survey will be compiled into a report to be presented at CFES Congress 2012. The report could then be submitted to Engineers Canada, or any other relevant organizations, to inform them of the opinion of engineering students on these academic matters. Your support is requested in order to develop an advertising campaign to reach out to the various students, professors, and professionals, which will include a focus on social media advertising, and will include a series of prizes as an incentive for participation. Thank you very much for your interest. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Michael Ross, CFES Academic Commissioner michael.ross@cfes.ca
Being actively involved in professional organizations is important for everyone, but it is especially important for young professionals. Participation can range from being chairperson, to simply attending events when they are held. Professional organizations have numerous benefits for the members ranging from the organization of technical sessions for professional development to the organization of social activities that help build our soft, but equally important, skills. Leadership, communication and technical skills are vital within the engineering profession, and having an opportunity to develop or further refine these skills is valuable to one’s career progression . Shaping the Future As discussed in the article by Sarah Devereaux in the spring edition of “The Engineer,” engineering is sometimes described as the invisible profession. One of the most important things that I believe Engineers Nova Scotia does to try to make our profession visible is organizing the activities for National Engineering Month (NEM). One of the most meaningful activities of NEM is the egg drop competition, which takes place at local Junior High Schools. Engineering is introduced to the youth of the area at a time when they are getting ready to make important decisions regarding their future career paths, and this event may be their first exposure to engineering. The egg drop in particular is something that The Importance of Young Professionals being actively involved in Professional Organizations Submitted by: James Mitchell, P.Eng. requires a very small time commitment from a volunteer but can make a big difference in how our profession is viewed by future generations. Networking In October, the Young Professionals committee organized a professional development session on networking. The session was very well attended and the importance of networking in our profession was clearly identified. One of the easiest ways to facilitate networking is to attend both the professional development and social events put on by ENS and other professional organizations. For young professionals it can be intimidating to attend these events when it is unlikely that they will know many of the people there, but the new and old contacts made always prove very valuable from both a professional and personal point of view. Becoming a Committee Member If as a young professional you have the interest in becoming a member of a committee within a professional organization, this is even better. As a committee member, not only do you get the benefit of building your technical and soft skills at the events that are organized, you also have a say in the types of activities that are planned. This provides opportunities to meet with people from different professional backgrounds to discuss ideas and in turn learn from their experiences. Although becoming a member of a committee requires a time commitment, I personally feel it is a good investment. As a member of the Young Professionals Committee and as the Vice-Chairperson of the NS Chapter of the Canadian Geotechnical Society, I get a great deal of satisfaction out of being involved in the organization of events which further our professional development and in turn help promote our profession. The ENGINEER 13
Page 1 and 2: Newsletter of The Association of Pr
Page 3 and 4: The Association of Professional Eng
Page 5 and 6: CEO/Registrar Len White, MBA, CGA,
Page 7 and 8: Professional Practice Dermot Mulroo
Page 9 and 10: Professional Development Kris Dove,
Page 11: As a regular reader of The Engineer
Page 15 and 16: I first met Mark de Jonge in 1998,
Page 17 and 18: EXECUTivE SUMMaRY In November 2009,
Page 19 and 20: Matthew Dugie (above) was selected
Page 21 and 22: Do you have a morning or an afterno
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THE ENGINEER - Engineers Nova Scotia

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