Excellence
SFU Master of Engineering program to foster the next generation of sustainability leaders
Students eager to be at the forefront of solving the world鈥檚 most pressing challenges have a unique new program to consider at 尤物视频.
The innovative School of Sustainable Energy Engineering (SEE) has announced a 16-month Master of Engineering program, which is now accepting applications for a fall 2025 start.
The program is designed for recent graduates with a degree in engineering or closely related disciplines in natural sciences. It aims to give students the skills and knowledge needed for them to hit the ground running in emerging clean-tech sectors, such as renewable power generation, clean buildings and zero-emission vehicles.
鈥淲e know there is a huge demand for this type of expertise,鈥� says SEE鈥檚 director, professor Zafar Adeel. 鈥淎s we look for solutions on how to address challenges related to global climate change, there鈥檚 a broad realization that you need people with specialized engineering backgrounds: Folks who specialize in technological advances and innovations that are sustainable, efficient and will boost the economy.
鈥淲e are developing a brand-new engineering domain and we鈥檙e looking at providing young professionals and fresh graduates the skills to be natural leaders in this rapidly growing field.鈥�
Over four consecutive terms, the curriculum provides a grounding in fundamental engineering concepts and their application to sustainable energy engineering. It introduces the broader context of energy鈥檚 interactions with air, land, water and food and the role of economics and energy policy.
In addition to engineering-specific courses, the program rounds out students鈥� skills with courses on how to identify opportunities and bring research to market from the Beedie School of Business and relevant electives from across SFU.
In the final two semesters of the program, students will undertake a team-based capstone project, working directly with external partners on an in-depth technical project with direct, real-world impacts.
Meeting global challenges
The program is the latest offering at Surrey-based SEE, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.
SEE focuses on engineering fields related to the harvesting, storage, transmission and use of clean energy.
The innovative school emerged to address a gap identified by the provincial and federal governments: the urgent need for engineers trained in new technologies that can change our world by tackling the causes and impacts of climate change.
鈥淚n the Faculty of Applied Sciences (FAS), we are proud to offer several distinct graduate programs that allow our students to meet the ever-broadening needs of society,鈥� says Eugene Fiume, Dean of FAS. 鈥淐anada is a global leader in renewable resources, sustainability, and clean technologies. As such, our MEng program will provide students with technical competencies to advance their careers in these areas from an engineering perspective.
鈥淪tudents in the MEng program will receive an interdisciplinary education to acquire comprehensive technological and leadership skills. This aligns with the commitment of SEE, FAS, and SFU to providing sustainable solutions to our communities.鈥�
Training tomorrow's leaders
Two cohorts have already graduated from SEE鈥檚 Bachelor of Applied Science program, which is accredited as providing the educational basis for students to become professional engineers.
Given how unique and specialized the program is, students from SEE have gone on to leading domestic and international companies ranging from zero-carbon buildings (such as RJC Engineers) to changing the future of transportation (such as Ballard Power Systems and Tesla).
Recent graduate Yasmin Dibai, now undertaking a Master of Applied Science degree while working at a major engineering consulting firm, said all the students in her program shared the same passion for using engineering to tackle climate change.
鈥淲hen I was trying to determine what discipline of engineering to pursue, it was really important for me that I was actually contributing to societal issues,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hen I got to SEE and met my cohort, I realized we were all there for the same reason.鈥�
Dibai said the school provided her with foundational engineering skills and it wasn鈥檛 long after her initial co-op placement that companies started calling due to her unique knowledge of sustainable energy innovations.
鈥淲e do have those traditional engineering skills and combining that with sustainability is great because the world is your oyster at that point in terms of careers,鈥� Dibai says.
鈥淲hen companies talk to me, they are genuinely interested in sustainable energy engineering. I think the job market favours SEE students because everyone is moving toward sustainability but few have that skillset.鈥�
Studying in the state-of-the-art building at SFU Surrey and having expert, yet approachable, faculty mentor her through the program sealed the deal, she says.
鈥淚鈥檇 absolutely recommend the Master of Engineering program if you鈥檙e thinking of applying,鈥� she says. 鈥淔or me, sustainability is a mindset. It goes beyond buzzwords. It鈥檚 about looking at everyday processes and questioning if there鈥檚 an energy efficient way to do this, in hopes of changing for the betterment of the planet. That鈥檚 what SEE is all about.鈥�
For more information on Master of Engineering in Sustainable Energy Engineering program or the other programs SEE offers, visit www.sfu.ca/see.