Introduction
Get ready to make a real impact! The Interdisciplinary Capstone (i-Capstone): Future Cities course at the University of Waterloo offers an exciting opportunity for students and community leaders to co-create innovative solutions to the challenges faced by our cities and communities. With a focus on sustainable housing, infrastructure, advanced mobility systems, and integrated urban planning, this course is your chance to support communities with projects.
But that's not all—this isn't just any capstone course! Students will earn course credit while applying their knowledge from across various disciplines, collaborating with peers from different faculties, and engaging with industry leaders. This interdisciplinary approach allows students to bring their unique skills and perspectives to the table, working on solution-oriented projects that demonstrate skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. Along the way, they will build valuable connections with community partners, expanding their professional networks and opening doors to future opportunities.
Each student will be matched with an interdisciplinary team on a project of shared interest around future cities themes. Project ideas may originate from students or Future Cities Institute external partners, which include municipalities from across Canada, researchers, and select corporate partners. The first few weeks of class will be spent laying the groundwork to ensure successful team and project formation.
The i-Capstone course counts in place of the capstone degree requirements in requisite programs in the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Environment, Math and Science.
Plus, there's a bonus: student teams have the chance to win prize money donated by the Future Cities Institute founded by CAIVAN.
Join us in this unique journey to explore, innovate, and shape the future of urban living. Together, we'll inspire change and create cities that are sustainable, resilient, and ready for the future!
Course details
- Who is involved?
- Project Teams: Each team will comprise four students, each from a different faculty at the University of Waterloo, ensuring a diverse range of expertise. They will be guided by a faculty member and supported by mentors from partner organizations.
- What is the time commitment for this course?
- Students: Teams will dedicate 10 hours per week for eight months, starting in September 2024. In addition, i-Capstone students can enroll in specialized courses designed to help prepare them for more effective interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Community Partners: The level of involvement for community partners is highly flexible, allowing them to choose a participation schedule that best fits their availability and capacity. They can engage with student teams as frequently as they wish, whether on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. Alternatively, partners can opt to participate only during key milestones, such as the end-of-term presentation report. This flexibility ensures that community partners can contribute in a way that aligns with their interests and time commitments.
- How will students and community partners benefit from participating in this course?
- For Students:
- Engage in experiential learning by applying strategic principles to real-world challenges.
- Gain valuable experience collaborating with peers from different faculties, enhancing interdisciplinary skills.
- Witness the tangible impact of their contributions on real-world projects, providing a unique opportunity to make a significant difference.
- Establish connections with community partners, opening doors to long-lasting relationships, networking opportunities, and potential future collaborations or employment.
- For Community Partners:
- Benefit from fresh perspectives and innovative ideas contributed by the next generation of leaders.
- Gain additional capacity and support for ongoing projects, as student teams can take on specific tasks or projects, helping to alleviate workload and bring new energy to their efforts.
- Showcase a commitment to education, innovation, and community well-being.
- For Students:
Course structure
The i-Capstone course counts in place of the capstone degree requirements in requisite programs in the Faculties of Arts, Engineering, Environment, Math and Science.
Fall 2024: Exploring the Opportunity and building the foundation
Through thoughtful and rigorous research and exploration, project teams will develop a deep understanding of the opportunity and will build the foundation for the project. By combining their diverse skills and experience, students will apply a collaborative approach to define the opportunity, explore contextual factors, complete a literature review, and identify/evaluate potential solutions.
Throughout this process, project teams will receive feedback about their understanding of the opportunity and potential solutions through presentations to instructors, experts, classmates, and, in some cases, soliciting external partner/client feedback. Students will hone their project and team management skills, and will develop invaluable interdisciplinary communication skills.
Winter 2025: Moving from ideas to action
During the second half of the course, project teams will focus on testing and/or refining their solutions. Through primary research and data analysis, they will provide evidence of the viability of the proposed solutions and will develop an implementation plan.
In addition to a final oral presentation, project teams will work with their mentors to define additional deliverables (e.g., comprehensive written report, prototype, business plan, user manual, academic article, infographics, etc.) depending on the intended target audience.
Get involved!
If you are interested in participating in the i-Capstone project, please click the appropriate link below to express your interest.