Overview of BEST at Lassonde School of Engineering

1. What is BEST at Lassonde School of Engineering?
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Dr. Andrew Maxwell,
Associate Professor Entrepreneurial Engineering
Director Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology
November 2017

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What is ?
• At the heart of Lassonde School’s vision for Renaissance Engineering
• Offers a holistic approach to engineering education
• Helps engineering students see how they can impact society
• Provides societal skills/experiences to prepare them for evolving careers
• Designed into student experience from day one
• Grounded in pedagogical and entrepreneurship research

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What is unique about ?
• Addresses need for engineers to better communicate & problem solve
• Societal need guides design of curricular and curricular activities
• Helps students learn about themselves, teamwork, and their roles
• Supports entrepreneurial and innovation programs at Lassonde/York
• Integrates engineering design with basics of business and law
• Includes curricular and experiential learning opportunities
• Informs and informed by current entrepreneurship & innovation research

5. Bergeron
GRADUATE
EDUCATION
CORPORATE
STARTUP
BEFORE DURING AFTER
COOP
ACADEMICSEXPERIENTIAL
EMBEDDED IN CURRICULUM INCLUDES
SCHULICH AND OSGOODE
LAB
RESEARCH
INSTITUTION
Roadmap

6. integrates the professional faculties at York
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7. approach to entrepreneurial engineering
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential
Learning
Industry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

8. High School Outreach
8
High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential LearningIndustry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

9. High School Outreach
Increasing STEM participation
Brings BEST entrepreneurial engineering to high school students
• Offers BEST workshops and bootcamps at Lassonde
• Launching online innovation/creativity program with Youth Science Canada
• Partnership with First Robotics to host 2018 finals at York
• National Partnership with SHAD – includes hosting program in 2019
• Partnership with Innovation York and YDSB to run summer bootcamps
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10. BEST Certificate
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential LearningIndustry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

11. BEST Certificate
Creates learning pathway for undergraduate engineering students
Transcripted certificate presented at graduation to recognize:
• Completion of 8 relevant courses
• 3 core engineering courses and 1 experiential course
• 3 business courses delivered in Schulich School of Business
• 1 law course delivered in Osgoode Law School
• Digital badges in innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship
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12. Awards and Fellowships
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential Learning
Industry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

13. Awards and Fellowships
Encouraging entrepreneurial students, supporting venture creation
Financial /mentoring support for entrepreneurial engineering activities
• Offers entrance awards to attract entrepreneurial engineering students
• Supports students at Lassonde, pursuing entrepreneurial activities
• Enables graduating or co-op students to pursue venture creation
• Supports early stage technology ventures to de-risk technologies
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14. Experiential Learning
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential Learning
Industry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

15. Experiential learning
Changing how students learn about entrepreneurship & themselves
Transforming education from “filling the pail” to “lighting the fire”
• International courses, to expose students to global societal challenges
• Co-op program for entrepreneurs
• Flipped classroom and Lassonde Studio innovating the way we teach
• Online experientialcourses in innovation and creativity,& entrepreneurship
• Access to facilitiesand programs in BEST lab
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16. Industry outreach
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential Learning
Industry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

17. Industry partnerships
Facilitates two way students- industry knowledge flow
Engagement enhances student learning /creates value for partners
• Through industry associations to address barriers to innovation
• With NSF/NSERC to bring TechConnect to large research organizations
• Creating BEST Labs on corporate sites to enhance innovation capacity
• Life long-learning in innovation and technology management
• Sharingresourcestoincreaseutilizationandstimulateknowledgetransfer
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18. Research
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High School
Outreach
Awards and
Fellowships
Experiential LearningIndustry Outreach
Research
BEST Certificate

19. Research
Undertake award winning research in technology commercialization
and entrepreneurship and in Innovation Management
Research based on experimental approach to technology commercialization
• TechConnect being deployed globally through partner universities
• Novel Technology Commercialization program developed with Temple U.
• Deploying new insight in Technology Entrepreneurship
• Conducting experimental research in commercialization in BEST Lab
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How is BEST integrated into engineering programs at Lassonde?
• Enhances student learning experiences through activities that enable students to
learn about themselves, the power of technology, and technology commercialization
• Integrates learning about technology, with learning about the management of
innovation, technology commercialization and venture creation
• Combines courses and experiential activities that encourage creative problem solving,
and design and innovative thinking to help students achieve their potential
• Encourages co-op opportunities around entrepreneurship
• Offers unique experiential activities such as Start Up weekend, Pitch competition,
hackathon and immersive experiential entrepreneurial opportunities

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23. For further information
Dr. Andrew Maxwell
Associate Professor Entrepreneurial Engineering
Lassonde School of Engineering
Director
Bergeron Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (BEST)
bestmax@yorku.ca
www.bestlassonde.ca
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