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Building a workplace for future engineers
“By offering tangible support to the
engineering community, we help
them leverage their talents and skills
to address the significant challenges
of our time.”
If you are an engineer in Quebec, chances are you’ve heard of Genium360.
As the largest engineering community in the province, the non-profit provides its more than 100,000 members professional training as well as other benefits, including an annual compensation survey, salary calculator and job listings.
“By offering tangible support to the engineering community, we help them leverage their talents and skills to address the significant challenges of our time,” says Michel Barbier, executive officer at Genium360, founded 22 years ago.
Perhaps lesser known are Genium360’s philanthropic efforts. Thanks to its revenue-generating commercial partnerships, considerable funds are channelled toward charitable foundations as well as student and professional associations under its AGIR program.
Genium360 recently made a $150,000 gift to the Campaign for Concordia to benefit the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. Focused on innovation, workplace development and encouraging women in the engineering field, the donation supports four initiatives over three years.
“Our philosophy is to enhance existing efforts,” says Barbier. “Concordia is well set up for the kind of activities we want to encourage. The university already supports innovative student initiatives — like technological competitions to design and build vehicles and concrete canoes that float — and runs entrepreneurial programs that showcase student startups.”
Aiming to build on this energy, the Genium360 Student Activities Fund will offer three $5,000 grants annually to engineering student groups, while its Genium360 Innovation Fund will support student-led projects with significant potential for commercialization.
“We were also encouraged by Concordia’s goal to have women represent 30 per cent of engineering students in 2030,” says Barbier. The gift also created the Genium360 Award for Women in Engineering in Student Groups — four awards of $5,000 annually to support female students participating in extracurriculars. An additional $5,000 per year is earmarked for the Gina Cody School’s own needs and priorities.
Genium360’s gift extends through three years, yet Barbier says Concordia can count on continued support from his organization.
