Wanted: students to develop interdisciplinary ideas — and solutions

The winter 2017 term at Concordia will see the launch of the first ever program from the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science’s Centre for Engineering and Society.

The newly approved Graduate Certificate in Innovation, Technology and Society aims to develop students’ knowledge across disciplines and provide them with the skills to effectively engage in innovation practices, lead interdisciplinary teams and enhance their independent entrepreneurial endeavours.

For Deborah Dysart-Gale, chair of the Centre for Engineering in Society, the new program is about “creating an interdisciplinary group driven by entrepreneurial spirit or vision, in order to generate an environment for students to immediately put into practice design theory and user-centered communications pedagogy.”

Cohorts will include engineers looking to expand their experience working with non-engineers in interdisciplinary teams, non-engineers wishing to develop skills working with technology, and professionals seeking additional skills for career success.

Students will finish their certificate with a practicum at District 3, Concordia’s innovation accelerator, where they will have a chance to put their newly acquired theoretical knowledge to use with the mentorship of faculty members, entrepreneurs and coaches.

District 3 is a natural home for the practicum — since its creation the accelerator has seen more than 400 students and community members adapt best practices in innovation, teaching and learning to develop a user-centred framework for entrepreneurial experiments.

For the students and faculty who have been with District 3, the new certificate program marks a milestone: pedagogical lessons developed through both technical and social innovation projects being brought into the classroom.

 “This certificate takes the academic approach to teaching innovation — which is critical in all areas these days — to the next level,” says Dysart-Gale.

Find out more about the Centre for Engineering and Society’s Graduate Certificate in Innovation, Technology and Society.