Jane Goodyer Archives - News@91��ɫ

Lassonde School of Engineering launches new Mechatronics program��

egamulin — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 13:00:18 +0000

Multidisciplinary degree with strong AI component to emphasize��experiential learning, leadership, collaboration and creativity��

TORONTO, Oct. 29, 2025 – The Lassonde School of Engineering at 91��ɫ has launched a new, innovative that integrates multiple engineering disciplines with hands-on industry experience in a single four-year program. Dean Jane Goodyer says the program’s focus on experiential learning, leadership, creativity, and problem-solving will prepare students for success in a rapidly transforming workplace.

Lassonde School of Engineering Dean Jane Goodyer

“What excites me most about mechatronics engineering is the creativity, empathy and big-picture thinking it demands,” says Goodyer. “Our new Mechatronics program brings together computer science with mechanical, electrical, software, space and computer engineering to prepare students to design AI-enabled technologies that work seamlessly with people —in homes, workplaces and communities — to make life more sustainable and inclusive. We’re preparing students to lead in a world transformed by AI — equipping them to use it as a tool, understand its limitations, and apply it ethically and responsibly to solve problems people care about most.”��

The degree promises to prepare integrative, interdisciplinary engineers who can use advances in AI to solve complex, real-world problems from day one.

“The goal of mechatronics is to provide the necessary technical background so that any graduate is well prepared for that, but also providing the soft skills, work and life experiences that will make them well suited for careers in industry,” says Mechatronics Program Director Michael Jenkin, also a professor at Lassonde. “One of the things that's particularly exciting about Mechatronics is that the systems interact with the real world. So, it's not just something in software that exists in simulated isolation.”

In the first-year block model option, students focus on one course at a time rather than juggling several at once. Lassonde has tested this approach in recent years, and early results show it is helping students achieve higher grades, reduce stress and find a better study-life balance. Another innovation is cross-year collaboration, with students in upper years acting as mentors to students in lower years.��

Third-year Engineering student Chantal Hanna, who recently transitioned into the Mechatronics Engineering discipline to prepare for a career in robotic automation, says the program opens doors to a wide range of emerging fields.

“I would absolutely recommend the Mechatronics program to students who are looking for a balance of creativity, design and technology,” says Hanna. “Mechatronics is teaching me to see technology not just as machinery, but as a way to connect with the future and innovate with purpose. There are always new advancements in tech, and this is the field that will continue to grow alongside those advancements.”

Students gain work experience through two mandatory work terms plus optional co-op placements for durations of four to 16 months, which participating employers say will help them accelerate talent recruitment.

“By making work-integrated learning, co-op and employability skills mandatory components of the Mechatronics curriculum, graduates will be equipped to excel in the global market, make meaningful contributions from day one, and achieve long-term career success,” says Jack Collier, a senior defence scientist with Defence Research and Development Canada. “At DRDC, we are constantly seeking innovative solutions to respond to talent shortages.”

Recognizing employers’ desires for well-rounded graduates to join their teams, the program also requires at least 12 hours of extracurricular leadership or teamwork experience, which could include playing a team sport, volunteering with a community organization or playing in a band or joining a choir.��

“Beyond the classroom, students build leadership and teamwork skills through volunteering, clubs and community projects, and gain confidence by mentoring and collaborating on multi-year teams,” says Goodyer. “With work-integrated learning and strong employer partnerships, our graduates will be ready to shape technology that connects with society and ensures AI serves people first.”

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About 91��ɫ

91��ɫ is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for success. 91��ɫ's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91��ɫ’s campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

About Lassonde School of Engineering

Located in the heart of the multicultural Greater Toronto Area, the at 91��ɫ is home to engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs, representing a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners. Since 2013, the School has seen a 260 per cent increase in student enrollment. With 11 undergraduate programs, seven graduate programs and a host of certificates and accessible study options, Lassonde is shaping the next generation of creators who will tackle the world’s biggest challenges and devise creative solutions through interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Lassonde’s creators think in big systems rather than small silos, design with people in mind and embrace ambiguity.

Media Contact: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

The post Lassonde School of Engineering launches new Mechatronics program�� appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

91��ɫ U welcomes six new Schulich Leaders to campuses for the first time

egamulin — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:30:00 +0000

Students receive a combined $660K in scholarships, looking to give back to the communities that helped foster their success

Toronto, ON, Sept. 26,�� 2025 — 91��ɫ is proud to have welcomed a record six to campus this September, recipients of Canada’s largest, most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship. The students say they are beyond thrilled to receive the generous scholarship that will allow them to focus on their studies at the Lassonde School of Engineering at 91��ɫ without worrying about financial pressures, and give them the skills they need to apply their technical and creative talents towards positive social change.

Selected from a pool of more than 350,000 candidates across Canada, over 1,400 graduating high school students were nominated, with 100 top recipients receiving the coveted award.

91��ɫ welcomed three times as many recipients in 2025 than it typically has in years past. Recipients pursuing an engineering degree will receive $120,000, while those pursuing a science, technology or math degree will receive $100,000.

“Schulich Leader Scholarships enable Canada’s top universities to attract and retain our exceptional STEM talent here at home, empowering them to become the innovators and entrepreneurs our country needs. When these scholars go on to drive prosperity and strengthen our economy, Canada must ensure the right economic conditions exist so they can build their promising futures here. Supporting their entrepreneurial ambition is essential for turning Canadian ingenuity into lasting national success,” says program founder Seymour Schulich.

Jane Goodyer, dean of the Lassonde School of Engineering, echoes this excitement: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome six Schulich Leaders to Lassonde this year — the most we’ve ever had. Each of these students brings not only academic strength, but also creativity, resilience and a strong drive to make a difference. At Lassonde, we give our students the space and support to turn bold ideas into real-world impact, and I can’t wait to see how this remarkable group will use this platform to shape the future of engineering, science and society.”

Eleen Aliyeva

is a graduate of Bradford DHS in Bradford ON where she was president of the student council, vice-president and co-founder of the coding club. She originally hails from North 91��ɫ and is entering a computer science program at 91��ɫ this fall.

“From a young age, I always had a fascination with technology, and I always asked myself questions like, ‘how does this work?’ and ‘how is this possible?” says Aliyeva. “As I grew up, I found out how science, engineering, mathematics were behind it all.”

Aliyeva, who also speaks French, hopes she can use her education to help and inspire women in STEM and sees herself creating software that has a positive impact on people, whether that be an app, game, or tool, and is excited to work towards that goal in a community of like-minded students at 91��ɫ. She is grateful to the Schulich Foundation for the scholarship that will relieve her from worrying about financing her education.

Wilamina Both

was born in Toronto and grew up in Maple and Woodbridge. She developed a passion for STEM through her involvement in the gifted program at her school and a bridge-building competition, as well as the travels she undertook while playing hockey with the North 91��ɫ Storm.

“It got me interested from a very young age in maps. Learning about all the different ways to get somewhere, such a giant network, I found it so interesting,” says Both. “Hockey was really the place I first found confidence and leadership skills, as it was really empowering for me as a woman to be in that male-dominated space, and in that sense helped prepare me for a career in engineering.”

Both spent her summer after graduation working as a hockey and skating coach and will continue to play hockey for the Mississauga Hurricanes during her time at 91��ɫ. Having completed the 91��ɫ Region Transportation Youth Ambassador program in her final year at Father Bressani Catholic High School, she plans on studying civil engineering at 91��ɫ with a focus on transportation planning.

Edward Drobnis

describes learning that he would be a Schulich Leader as a “surreal” experience.

“It wasn’t just a scholarship, but also a recognition of my dedication to STEM and my efforts to make it more accessible, especially for underrepresented groups.”

As a graduate of Alexander Mackenzie High School in Richmond Hill, he joined his school robotics and coding clubs in the ninth grade. Last year, he won his first hackathon, and since then, Drobnis has helped with organizing hackathons and fundraising to ensure the events were free and accessible.

Drobnis is enrolled in the Digital Technologies program at 91��ɫ’s new Markham Campus, a unique program where Drobnis will combine fulltime paid work at Shopify while he obtains his four-year degree.

“I find it really cool that you gain experience by working at a real company. And I love the innovation as well as the collaboration and mentorship it provides.”

Herman Isayenka

Originally from Belarus, came to Canada at the age of 2 with his family. He grew up in Newmarket and credits his father for his early interest in STEM.

“My dad was a software engineer for my whole life,” says Isayenka, who also speaks Russian. “When I was seven years old, I began my first coding experience with block codes.”

Isayenka continued learning to program, focusing on learning Python and Java during the COVID-19 pandemic, and later worked on projects collaborating with university students. A graduate of Dr. John M. Denison Secondary School, Isayenka hopes to work on projects involving AI, robotics and computer vision during his engineering studies at 91��ɫ and hopes to apply this to a major societal problem post-graduation.

He describes feeling a mixture of happiness, gratitude and humbleness when learning he would be a recipient of the scholarship.

Rehan Jetha

is from the Ottawa South neighbourhood of Greenboro with parents from Kenya and Tanzania who trace their ethnic heritage back to India. A recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal, Principal’s Award and a writer’s award from his time at Canterbury High School, the engineering student credits much of his success to the Ismaili Muslim community he grew up in that instilled values of volunteerism, getting a strong education and helping the most vulnerable in society.

Growing up in a multi-generational home with his parents and grandparents sparked his early interest in how STEM could be applied to better the lives of people, with Jetha working on a home automation system for his grandparents at 12 years old in order to address some of the mobility issues they were experiencing.

“I was able to teach them simple English phrases to use the home automation service and that made their lives so much easier,” says Jetha, who also speaks French and Kutchi, a language spoken in Gujarat, India where his grandparents are from. “That really hooked me, that human aspect of STEM.”

Anthony Tu

was curious about how things worked from a very young age, taking apart his toys with a screwdriver to understand how they are put together. A graduate of Chaminade College School in North 91��ɫ where he developed a strong interest in robotics, he credits the encouragement and mentorship of his teachers with helping him become a Schulich Leader.

“A lot of teachers pushed me to take opportunities, especially in the STEM field, whether it was robotics or networking,” says Tu, now studying computer science at 91��ɫ. “Without those opportunities, I don't think I would have had as much experience as I have now.”

Tu, who also speaks Cantonese, was attracted to 91��ɫ for the educational opportunities and also the proximity to the community he grew up in. He would like to apply his studies and interest in robotics in a way where he is able to give back.

“I want to give them, not only the same opportunities, but more opportunities to explore future career paths.”

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About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada:

Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $200+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators. Through The Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates this year, enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

Media Contact:

Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

The post 91��ɫ U welcomes six new Schulich Leaders to campuses for the first time appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

Two incoming 91��ɫ U engineering students receive prestigious $100K+ Schulich Leader scholarships

egamulin — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Students from Ottawa and North 91��ɫ entering Lassonde School of Engineering program receive Canada’s largest Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship

TORONTO, Sept 9, 2023 – Students entering the at 91��ɫ were among the 13th cohort of , recipients of Canada’s largest, most prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) scholarship.

Out of a pool of 350,000 potential candidates across Canada, more than 1,400 students were nominated, with 100 recipients receiving this award.

With the help of the scholarship, the graduating high school students from Ottawa and the North 91��ɫ area of Toronto will further their knowledge of engineering at 91��ɫ to support their goals of entrepreneurship and using technology to grow community.

, 18, of North 91��ɫ, Ont. is entering a computer science program and , 18, of Ottawa, Ont., will study engineering.

Nguyen will receive a $100,000 scholarship and Panchel will receive $120,000.

“We are proud to welcome Bill and Krishiv,” says Jane Goodyer, dean of Lassonde. “Their selection from among thousands of candidates highlights not only their academic excellence but also their leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and dedication to driving meaningful change. At Lassonde, we believe in empowering students to tackle the world’s biggest challenges through innovation and collaboration, and we’re excited to see how Bill and Krishiv will leverage this opportunity to make a lasting impact in the STEM field and beyond. With the support of the Schulich Leader Scholarship, they are well-positioned to shape the future of technology and inspire others along the way.”

Bill Nguyen

Bill Nguyen is studying computer science at 91��ɫ

Born to immigrant parents, Nguyen grew up in North 91��ɫ among a tight-knit Vietnamese community and speaks Vietnamese fluently. He went to secondary school at Chaminade College School, an all-boys Catholic school near Lawrence Avenue West and Black Creek Drive. Participating in traditional Vietnamese line dancing and volunteering at schools, Nguyen says he always had older role models to look up to provide him mentorship.

“Eventually a lot of those role models went off to do their own things, and then I assumed some of those responsibilities. The community gave so much to me, so I just want to help as much as I can.”

While he had always had an interest in science and technology, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic where he solidified his future path.

“During Covid, everyone was in their own bubble, and it made me realize how much I missed my community,” says Nguyen. “I realized it was technology that was keeping me connected to my people.”

Drawn to 91��ɫ equally for the educational opportunities and the location that will allow him to stay in his community, Nguyen says he would like to keep connection at the centre of the work he does and is interested in developing social-media applications in the future.

Pushed to apply for the Schulich scholarship by his chemistry teacher, Nguyen got the news that he was a recipient while on a school camping trip.

“I’m very blessed to have received the support I did and feel so lucky to have received this scholarship,” says Nguyen.

“When I got the news, I was astonished. All my friends were around me. I was ecstatic and ran to my chemistry teacher right away. I was like, ‘Sir, sir, we did it!’”

Krishiv Panchal

Krishiv Panchal is studying engineering at 91��ɫ

Born in Ahmedabad, one of the largest cities in India, Panchal grew up speaking Gujurati with his family and moved to Winnipeg when he was five.

“We didn't have that much money when we came to Canada, so it was tough starting out. My family didn’t have many connections growing up, so it was tough to get opportunities,” recalls Panchal.

Panchal’s passion for STEM was discovered when he was in high-school and the COVID-19 lockdowns hit. Like a lot of other young people stuck at home, he spent a lot of time playing video games and had an issue with his controller.

“It got to a point where it was super annoying, so I had to pull out my screwdriver and see what was going on inside,” says Panchal. “I was blown away with all the circuitry going on and studied it. I eventually got to the issue, fixed it, and that was when I discovered my love for engineering.”

He moved to Ottawa halfway through Grade 10, where he attended Canterbury High School. Panchal says he found his school in Ottawa was underrepresented in STEM, and he wanted to help his fellow students apply their studies.

Because of these combined experiences, Panchal started an initiative called Thrive, which helps students connect with internships in their local communities and other opportunities.

Drawn to the Lassonde program for its entrepreneurial elements, Panchal says he likes to come up with innovative solutions to problems, a trait that came in handy when he had severe insomnia in high school and created an app to help himself regulate his sleep schedule, something he plans on refining, with the help of 91��ɫ researchers, to help him understand the mechanisms of sleep more.

“Sleep is a huge problem among students, especially when they are up late studying for tests, pulling all-nighters. I’m so glad that this scholarship will help me tackle this issue.”

The Schulich Leaders Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, charisma and creativity, as well as financial need.

“We are proud to celebrate the continued success of Schulich Leader Scholarships, the premiere STEM scholarship program in Canada. This group of outstanding students will represent the best and brightest Canada has to offer and will make great contributions to society, both on a national and global scale. With their university expenses covered, they can focus their time on their studies, research projects, extracurriculars, and entrepreneurial ventures. They are the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators,” says program founder Seymour Schulich.

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About Schulich Leader Scholarships Canada
Recognizing the increasing importance and impact that STEM disciplines will have on the prosperity of future generations, businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich established this $200+ million scholarship fund in 2012 to encourage our best and brightest students to become Schulich Leader Scholars: the next generation of entrepreneurial-minded, technology innovators. Through The Schulich Foundation, these prestigious entrance scholarships are awarded to 100 high school graduates this year, enrolling in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) undergraduate program at 20 partner universities in Canada. Every high school in Canada can submit one Schulich Leader Nominee per academic year based on academic excellence in STEM, entrepreneurial leadership and financial need.

About Lassonde School of Engineering

Located in the heart of the multicultural Greater Toronto Area, the at 91��ɫ is home to engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs, representing a diverse community of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners. With 11 undergraduate programs, seven graduate programs and a host of certificates and accessible study options, Lassonde is shaping the next generation of creators who will tackle the world’s biggest challenges and devise creative solutions through interdisciplinary learning opportunities. Lassonde’s creators think in big systems rather than small silos, design with people in mind and embrace ambiguity.

About 91��ɫ

Media Contact: Emina Gamulin, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 437-217-6362, egamulin@yorku.ca

The post Two incoming 91��ɫ U engineering students receive prestigious $100K+ Schulich Leader scholarships appeared first on News@91��ɫ.