There are 24 colleges in Ontario, and many boast impressive programs for individuals in the area of engineering and technology. Of great note is Seneca College. They have operated since 1967 throughout the Greater Toronto Area, and offer 16 programs in Engineering Technology.
Their Civil Engineering Technology program facilitates education in CAD, city design, building codes, environmental applications and multiple software programs. This six semester program requires a co-op program where students can apply their knowledge in real world applications. Students are able to take their three year diploma and apply it to a multitude of University degrees including a Bachelor of Engineering, and a Bachelor in Environmental Studies.
In 2019, Seneca opened a new facility called the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CITE). The purpose of the building is to unite “applied research, commercialization, specialized training and an entrepreneurial incubator for both students and industry leaders”. It includes CNC and KUKA labs for engineering students, as well as those in additional fields. The building pays tribute to Canada’s Indigenous roots with a beautiful medallion named the “Circle of Indigenous Knowledge”, which visually represents First Nations art and their contribution to Canadian culture. Their applied research facility has worked on projects such as air molded plastics, prototyping, air purifiers, and ecologically sustainable cleaning solutions to name a few.
Seneca boats an additional impressive facility called the Mechatronics Simulation and Demonstration Centre, where they have partnered with Siemens Canada to create a space where fields in automation, robotics, maintenance and other technologies can coexist. The revolutionary center assists with certifications for mechatronics through the Siemens Canada Engineering and Technology Academy in Canada. Siemens is a manufacturing giant, and boast that they are “the only company on the planet that brings the real and virtual manufacturing worlds together under the same roof. It’s all part of Industry 4.0, the emerging era of smart factories, where people and machines will work as one.” A preview of their facility can be seen on their YouTube channel.
In light of recent announcements of college closures due to COVID19, Seneca cancelled a few community events. With any hope, these well thought out events will be rescheduled for later dates. The college’s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Technology had paired with members of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT), Heave Construction Association of Toronto (HCAT), Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC), and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) to produce a conference called “Building Communities”. This event was going to feature speakers from each of those organizations to provide networking opportunities for students to connect with professionals in their industry. It was also to include a bridge building competition wherein Seneca students utilize CAD and CNC machines to produce their strongest bridge.
Seneca had additional community involvement planned, with another event on March 26, called “The Living City: Designing Urban Resilience” presented by OACETT. Individuals from across multiple professions in the engineering industry were to speak in panels and present workshops to students on incorporating green spaces into city design to better our municipalities.
With such amazing community involvement and corporate support from a variety of industries, it is no wonder that Seneca College hosts over 30,000 full time students, as reported by MacLean’s. To learn more about their engineering and technology programs, view their multiple videos available on their website. For application guidelines, visit their registration page for Canadian or International students.
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