Memorial Engineering students benefit from leadership program
Two students from the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial University of Newfoundland took part in the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES) first ever Leadership Summer School (LSS) from Aug. 21 to 27.
The week-long event is a professional development program that gives engineering students across the world an opportunity to come together to learn new skills and share experiences. The program took place at the University of Toronto and included participants from 14 different countries, including Canada, Greece, Bosnia, Slovenia, Spain, Poland, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Among the participants were Amanda Curnew, a Civil Engineering student at Memorial, and Matthew Ryan, a Mechanical Engineering student at Memorial, who are both commencing Academic Term Six with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science this Fall.
"The main objective of the program was to provide engineering students with a week of practical training pertaining to leadership styles, group dynamics, presentation skills, project management, conflict management, decision making and personality types," said Mr. Ryan. "The training allowed for an exchange of knowledge, sharing of best practices amongst all the participants and attaining a number of professional skills. I really enjoyed the entire program and would recommend it to any engineering student."
Ms. Curnew also speaks highly of the Leadership Summer School, adding she felt honoured just to be among the engineering students chosen for the program.
"It was an amazing experience. It was a great opportunity to learn more about personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as learn from other inspiring engineering students and their experiences," she said. "It is definitely a worthwhile opportunity for engineering students and it was certainly a privilege to be chosen to participate."
Engineering students from 28 different countries applied to attend the Leadership Summer School, but only 25 individual applicants were accepted, based on grades, programs of study, resume and extracurricular activities.
The fact two students were chosen from Memorial speaks to the reputation of the university and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, according to Dr. Ramachandran Venkatesan, dean pro tempore of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
"I want to congratulate Ms. Curnew and Mr. Ryan on getting accepted into the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students Leadership Summer School. I always encourage our students to get involved with projects outside of the classroom and I am pleased to see they chose a venture that enabled them to utilize what they have already learned at Memorial while also learning new skills and working with people from a variety of backgrounds," said Dr. Venkatesan. "Memorial University and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science are both highly respected around the world. A big reason why is the quality of students we send to international programs such as this one. I am confident Ms. Curnew and Mr. Ryan were exemplary representatives of our university and faculty in Toronto."
Ms. Curnew and Mr. Ryan resumed classes with the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
