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Airbus and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC) have selected three finalists from Canada, Italy and the U.K. for the seventh annual Airbus GEDC Diversity Award. This global award recognizes successful initiatives that inspire students from all profiles and backgrounds to study and succeed in engineering.
Launched by Airbus in 2012, the long-term goal of the award is to increase diversity among engineering professionals globally, so that the engineering industry reflects the diversity of the communities it supports.
An award committee of Airbus employees and GEDC members reviewed 48 entries from 18 countries and five continents, the highest number of entries in the history of the award. The committee deemed the quality of entries to be exceptionally high with 14 projects selected for the shortlist. Collectively, these projects have made engineering career paths more visible and more attainable to over 80,000 students worldwide.
The Cross-campus capstone classroom (C4) from York University – Lassonde School of Engineering in Canada was selected as a finalist for the innovative nature of the project and results to date.
The cross-campus capstone classroom unites Engineering, Dance and other faculty members to break down disciplinary barriers between students and work together to solve problems that require more than one disciplinary lens. In its first year, 74 students from 23 programs and eight faculties, including 23 engineering students, are involved. Teams research and design a sustainable solution to one of 11 social impact challenges set by companies, non-profits, start-ups, and government-linked organisations. This full-year capstone experience helps students recognize the value of their own disciplinary skills, learn how to work effectively across boundaries and understand that today’s problems require us to learn with each other and work together for a common purpose.
A representative from the project will present their initiative to a distinguished jury at Airbus Headquarters in Toulouse, France, later this year where the winning project will also be announced.
