The University of Waterloo has partnered with the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) to help engineers remain agile as the world of work changes.
WatSPEED, the Faculty of Engineering, and OSPE have collaborated to launch an innovative new professional development course designed to help engineering professionals compete in an increasingly digital landscape. It will enable engineers, technicians, technologists, leaders, and managers to navigate industry disruption and adapt to rapid changes in technology.
"Technology is now advancing at a quicker pace than an organization’s ability to keep up. This program will ensure that engineers have the knowledge and skills to enable businesses to harness these technologies to not only adapt, but to excel."
Sandro Perruzza
Chief Executive Officer, OSPE
Digital transformation in engineering
The course, Digital Transformation in Engineering, begins in Spring 2022, and is designed to address the impact that information technology is having on the field of engineering.
During the eight-week course, engineers and those who influence or lead change within their organizations will discover new technologies and plan for their integration into the workplace. Participants will also examine the impact that information technology will have on their future careers, assess emerging digital opportunities, understand challenges organizations face as digital transformation impacts the industry, and adopt tools and techniques to promote continuous improvement and innovation. Unique to this course is the inclusion of 1:1 coaching and consulting for all participants.
"Knowing how to pivot quickly, create new connections, and leverage technology are the keys to succeed in the new economy."
Irene Sterian, PEng
Founder, President & CEO, REMAP Network
Director, Technology & Innovation, Celestica
Board of Directors, OSPE
The importance of digital transformation for the future of work
According to the World Economic Forum’s The Future of Jobs Report 2020, 85 million jobs will be displaced due to the division of labour between humans and machines. As COVID-19 accelerates the digitization of our workforce, organizations must have a strategy in place to manage technological change. Engineers will play an essential role in influencing and leading change and facilitating continuous improvement — across all industries — through their evolving technical knowledge.
“This course is intended to help engineers be more effective inside their organizations with digital transformation and the introduction of new technologies,” said Peter Carr, continuing lecturer in the Department of Management Sciences at Waterloo. “In this course, we introduce a process for considering which technologies organizations should choose, what they are going to do with those technologies, and how they are going to implement them.”
Peter Carr | Continuing lecturer in the Department of Management Sciences at Waterloo
"We can see how the use of computers, the use of data, and the use of technology has influenced the disciplines of engineering and how we impart knowledge to students."
Mary Wells, PhD, PEng
Dean of Engineering
University of Waterloo
With additional plans to collaborate on the horizon, this partnership between the WatSPEED, Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering, and OSPE will ensure engineering professionals have the tools needed to create a roadmap for successful digital transformation.
