Outreach & Community Programs
The School of Engineering hosts a variety of 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 pertaining to School of Engineering outreach activities contact Outreach Advisor Tamara Weninger.
For Geering Up related inquiries contact kelowna.geeringup@ubc.ca
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 17th to 21st and August 14th 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: May 14, 2023
Notification of selected candidates: June 16, 2023
Applications are now open. CLICK HERE to apply.
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.
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: 2023 Dates TBD. (Last year’s date was: October 13-15, 2022)
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.
To view recordings from last year’s event, click here: https://engineering.ubc.ca/openhouse.
On-campus: 2023 Date TBD. (Last year’s date was: November 19, 2022)
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! To view more information and to RSVP, visit the event webpage here: https://engineering.ok.ubc.ca/open-house/.
If you have any questions please contact Tamara Weninger at tamara.weninger@ubc.ca
The Summer Transition to Engineering Bridge Program is unavailable in Summer 2022. Please check back in Spring 2023 for updates.
Start building a strong foundation for your engineering degree by participating in the free, non-credit Summer Transition to Engineering Bridge Program in August. Enroll in short (4-day) courses presented by School of Engineering faculty designed to prepare you for your first year of engineering.
The courses will include introductory university math, physics, and coding with a focus on engineering applications. Instructors will include award-winning faculty who typically teach first-year courses.
UBC Engineering: Everything You Need to Know
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.
Check out recent recordings of these sessions:
UBC Engineering: Everything You Need to Know
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.
UBC Engineering: Everything You Need to Know – YouTube
UBC Engineering: University Basics and Application Tips
Join us for a ‘Post-secondary 101’ lesson that will give you all of the basics you need to know when applying for UBC Engineering. Topics we’ll cover include the difference between an Engineering Technology Diploma and the UBC Bachelor of Applied Science degree, what you need to know to apply, and tips and tricks for your personal profile. All are welcome to attend, but this presentation is designed for first-generation university applicants.
UBC Engineering: University Basics and Application Tips – YouTube
UBC Engineering: Engineering vs. Science — What’s the Difference?
You’ve taken science courses in high school, but whether it is biology, chemistry, or physics, did you know you can also focus on these areas in engineering? Whether your interests are in sustainability, design and technology, or preserving our earth, engineering can open up doors for you.
UBC Engineering: Engineering vs. Science — What’s the Difference? – YouTube
Interested in a future career where you’ll get to design, create, and innovate? Want a career that can make an impacting change in our world? With over 14 engineering programs ranging from biomedical to environmental to manufacturing, all with a focus on sustainability and making a positive impact on our world, we invite you to learn about how a degree with UBC Engineering can lead to unlimited career opportunities.
UBC Engineering – Design, Create, Innovate – YouTube
Changing the World: Engineering the Future
High school girls in grades 10-12 are invited to explore why engineering is an amazing career for women who want to change the world, help improve the lives of others and the environment around us, and who like teamwork and problem-solving. Learn about different types of engineering, chat with current students, hear from our guest speakers and learn more about engineering at both the UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan campuses. This event is co-hosted by UBC Engineering and UBC’s Women in Engineering group, a student-run organization that promotes gender diversity, equity and inclusion in engineering.* We have an inclusive view of the word “women” and “girl” and we welcome trans, genderqueer and non-binary folks interested in this event.
UBC Engineering: Changing the World: Engineering the Future 2022 – YouTube
Interested in more Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Programs available at the UBC Okanagan campus? Check out the UBC Okanagan STEM page for more details.