Outreach & Community Programs

Fast Tracking To Success

Eligible high school students in the Central Okanagan can enroll in select UBC Okanagan School of Engineering courses and earn high school graduation credits at the same time.

Under the province’s dual-credit program, high schools students who qualify can enroll in up to 2 university-level courses per year.

The School of Engineering at UBC’s Okanagan campus opened its doors to select secondary level students as part of the university’s Access Studies (Concurrent Studies) Program.  “Our community is vital to the success of our campus” says Rehan Sadiq, the associate dean of the School of Engineering, “so welcoming some of our community’s best students is a wonderful opportunity for them and for us.”  In next year’s pilot project, up to five top students from School District 23 will participate. The students will require an average of over 90%.

The first available course for students in the program is the engineering design course APSC 171.  According to Sadiq “these students will quickly be immersed in the world of engineering with our most popular course.”  Students study computer-aided design and modeling while prototyping their own inventions using a variety of tools including 3D printers, 3 and 4 axis CNC desktops and electronics.  “Our hope is that these students will develop a love for engineering and return to purse their studies at UBC Okanagan” says Sadiq.

To apply, please contact your school district’s guidance department or email engineering.okanagan@ubc.ca

You can also learn about the Concurrent Studies enrollment pathway by click here.

The School of Engineering hosts a variety of summer programs for students of all ages.  These programs are designed to foster skills in the applied sciences, develop a love of learning and exploration, and build teamwork capabilities.

For more information on any of the programs listed below, please email engineering.okanagan@ubc.ca.

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Engineering Explorations (formerly known as DiscoverE)

Are you considering if engineering is the correct career path for you? Join us for a week filled with thrilling projects, innovative designs, and a community of like-minded individuals who share your passion for engineering. Explorations in Engineering is a unique opportunity where you will be taught all things engineering by UBCO Engineering Students and UBCO Engineering Faculty. Start your engineering journey today, the possibilities for exploration are endless.

Age Group: High School Students, Grades 11-12
Dates: This program is offered twice in the summer of 2023, July 17^th to 21^st and August 14^th to 18th

Register Here: https://geeringup.apsc.ubc.ca/camps/general-information/in-person-camps/in-person-kelowna-summer-camps/

If you have any questions please email: kelowna.geeringup@ubc.ca

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Stewards in Engineering Education (SEED) Program

Age Group: High School Students, Grades 9-12.

Dates: July 24 – 28, 2023

Application Deadline: June 4, 2023 (Extended from May 14, 2023)

Notification of selected candidates: June 16, 2023

Applications are now open closed.

The School of Engineering at UBC’s Okanagan campus conducts a Stewards in Engineering Education (SEED) Program to promote engineering research interest and involvement among high school students. Through the SEED Program, high-school students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research projects with world-class researchers and graduate students in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities.

High school students going into grades 9, 10, 11, or 12 can apply for the SEED Program by completing this SEED Program application form and submitting it via the instructions above. Application forms will then be reviewed, and successful applicants will be selected to participate in engineering research projects at UBC’s Okanagan campus for a one-week period.

Participants will be asked to share their research experiences with their peers the following school year. The hope is that the shared research experiences will plant seeds for future interest and involvement in engineering.

Learn about one student’s SEED experience here.

Summer Camps (UBCO Location):

Geering Up offers STEAM camps for students entering Grades 1 to 12 at our UBC Okanagan campus located in Kelowna. Our STEAM camps inspire and challenge youth across the Okanagan through fun, innovative, and hands-on experiments and projects, and each day is a dynamic mix of hands-on activities, demonstrations, tours, mentors, and design challenges. Our camps are taught by experienced university students with a passion for their field of study. In addition to all of this, we ensure each camper spends, at least, one hour of each day participating in active games outside (weather permitting).

This Summer, Geering Up is offering camps in the following areas: STEAM, STEM Explorations, Maker, Creative Coders, Eco-Innovators Engineering, Intro to Engineering, and Explorations in Engineering. Learn more here: https://geeringupokanagan.ca/programs/kelowna-camps/

Classroom Workshops:

Geering Up is excited to announce that we are offering in-person workshops from October 2022 – June 2023! Each workshop will be led by two amazing Geering Up instructors and will consist of exciting STEAM based and hands-on activities that stimulate experimental thinking and scientific literacy. Students of all levels can participate and be equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to further explore Science, Engineering and Technology after the workshop. Workshops are available to schools across the Okanagan!

Registration and more information can be found here: https://geeringupokanagan.ca/programs/kelowna/

Saturday Clubs:

Geering Up clubs are a mix of science and engineering through hands-on projects, demos, design challenges, and mentors! Ever wanted to launch a rocket, design a skyscraper, or program a computer? Explore all of this and more in our weekly hands-on STEAM Clubs.

Registration and more information can be found here: https://geeringupokanagan.ca/programs/kelowna-saturday-clubs/

Open House Details

Online: October 12-14, 2023

Attend the online UBC Engineering Open House to discover your future at one of Canada’s top engineering schools. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover UBC Engineering through online presentations, panel discussions, and virtual booths. You will learn about: first year curriculum, degree options, variety of engineering programs on both the Okanagan and Vancouver Campus, admissions, student life, co-op, study abroad, extracurriculars and clubs.

For more info on the event visit: https://engineering.ubc.ca/openhouse.

On-campus: November 18, 2023

Attend our on-campus UBC Engineering Open House to discover your future at one of Canada’s top engineering schools. Prospective students will be able to explore all UBC Engineering has to offer through in-person booths, demonstrations, faculty and student panels, lab tours, campus tours, and more! For more information about this event visit: https://engineering.ok.ubc.ca/open-house/.

If you have any questions please contact Marie Reid at marie.reid@ubc.ca.

UBC Engineering: Everything You Need to Know

October 25^th, 2023 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific Time

Engineers solve problems and make the world a better place to live. Discover some of the ways engineering impacts your life every day and everything you need to know in order to become an engineer, beginning with admissions details to UBC Engineering.  This session is great for younger high school students to learn about the courses you need to take in high school to be eligible for UBC Engineering.

Ask Me Anything: Admission to UBC Engineering for Canadian Students

November 22^nd, 2023 5:00 – 6:00 pm Pacific Time

Students that are Canadian or Permanent Residents of Canada are invited to ask our advisors all of your last-minute questions before submitting your application for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) at UBC’s Vancouver or Okanagan campus. This session will recap the most important information you need to know when applying and will serve as a forum for you to ask questions, hear from other applicants, and learn why UBC is one of the top engineering programs in Canada.

Ask Me Anything: Admission to UBC Engineering for International Students

 November 24^th, 2023 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm Pacific Time

International students are invited to ask our advisors all of your last-minute questions before submitting your application for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) at UBC. This session will recap the most important information you need to know when applying and will serve as a forum for you to ask questions, hear from other applicants, and learn why UBC is one of the top engineering programs in Canada.