TORONTO, June 20, 2011 – York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri and the Hon. John Milloy, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced a $50 million capital investment today for a new engineering building at York’s Keele campus. One of the largest expansions in the University’s history, the project is expected to have an important impact on the future academic landscape of the University.
"We are extremely pleased that the Ontario government is investing in a technologically-advanced engineering complex at York University," said President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri. “Building on York’s traditional strengths in the humanities, social sciences, law and business, this initiative, while meeting our aspirations to expand in applied science, will provide us with the opportunity to train future innovators who will develop solutions for our growing challenges."
Engineering has featured in academic plans since the University was founded in 1959. This investment paves the way to an expanded engineering program consistent with York University’s traditional emphasis on disciplinary richness, collaboration and transformation.
“Investing in state-of-the-art sustainable buildings like the new engineering building at York’s Keele Campus is vital to Ontario’s future economic growth,” said Minister Milloy. “Our government’s support for applied sciences and teaching facilities has created jobs, while giving researchers and students the tools they need to become the best in the world.”
The creation of a new building is the most significant component of York University’s plan to meet the need for engineering graduates in Ontario’s growing knowledge-based creative economy.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering at York currently offers an accredited and high quality suite of engineering streams: Computer, Geomatics and Space. York’s Space Engineering stream is the only undergraduate program of its kind in Canada with a unique research relationship with Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Starting in September 2011, Software Engineering will be available to students. The Ontario government funding will enable York to further expand to a more comprehensive School of Engineering.
"York University's School of Engineering will embrace a Global Engineering concept. It will be based on the three pillars characterizing 21st century engineering − cooperative education & industry partnerships, entrepreneurship & leadership, and global learning," said Janusz Kozinski, dean of the Faculty of Science & Engineering.
Future announcements around the construction plans and design will be made throughout 2011.
Watch the announcement of York's next big project here:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYq_K5lC0W0
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 54,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 240,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation
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Media contact:
Wallace Pidgeon, Associate Director, Media Relations
416-736-2100 ext 22091 wpidgeon@yorku.ca
