This year, our collective dedication has earned us the rank of fourth among engineering faculties in Canada. We are experiencing a historic influx of talent, welcoming over 6,500 students into a "no-limit" culture of innovation. From launching pioneering programs in Mechatronics to opening world-class research centres in hydrogen innovation and defence technologies, we are transforming theory into global impact.
As we blur the lines between disciplines and forge new partnerships, we remain steadfast in our commitment to excellence. Together, we are not just solving the problems of today; we are engineering a more resilient, sustainable and brilliant future for all.
Simaan AbouRizk PhD, PEng, FRSC, Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Vision + Mission
Driven. Daring. Curious. Supportive. Grounded. Considerate.
Our Vision
Be the most daring engineering community on the planet.
Our Mission
Be united in our unwavering dedication to solving the world’s greatest challenges and building a better future for our society.
Our Core Values
Building our future through people: We support world-class research in a collaborative, cross-functional environment. We aim to diversify the engineering field and apply ingenuity, opening our process and potential for students, faculty and staff.
Developing minds and hands with a heart: We take a holistic approach to deliver an exceptional student experience, equipping graduates with technical acumen and emotional intelligence.
Demonstrating the ever-expanding value of our contributions: We promote an understanding and deep appreciation for the value we provide to society through our engagement in the community, research impact and in our contributions.
Solving the world’s greatest challenges: We position our engineers to uplift the whole of humanity by focusing on research programs and exemplary educational and extracurricular
experiences.
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The Faculty of Engineering ranks Top 5 among engineering programs in Canada
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12,000 m2 of research space dedicated to energy, from oil and gas to carbon capture and hydrogen
Research Impact
Innovation refuses to be contained. Our focus on the integration of multiple subfields in engineering is enhanced through our strategic partnerships to expand and streamline the biomedical engineering teaching and research program. Pushing boundaries, we endeavour to innovate new solutions and technologies such as mechatronics, bioprocessing and healthcare engineering to pave the way for our future. We are creating an ecosystem where biomedical engineering thrives, giving our students and researchers the tools to solve complex global challenges and pioneer the health solutions of tomorrow.
Research by the Numbers
The Faculty of Engineering received the highest dollar value of NSERC Alliance Grants among all Canadian universities for the most recent reporting period (2019-2023).
$78M
in research funding awarded in 2024-2025, a $13M increase over last year.
22
NSERC Industrial Research Chairs (current and past holders)
17
Endowed chairs and professorships
17
Canada Research Chairs
29
University of Alberta Engineering Research Chairs
New program teaches students to solve tomorrow's complex problems
A new undergraduate degree program integrating the high-demand fields of robotics and electrical, computer and mechanical engineering is the first of its kind in the Prairie provinces. The five-year program — a direct response to the aims of the Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy — includes 20 months of industry co-op placement.
Engineering Without Limits: Where Collaboration Ignites Innovation
Busting myths with the power of math
In the hugely popular fourth-year course, “Busting Myths with Analysis,” mechanical engineering students tackle problems based on common urban myths, applying mathematical equations based on physical laws such as gravity, aerodynamics, terminal velocity and fluid dynamics.
Ideas for the course are derived from various sources, including the students themselves. There are also regular class debates, sometimes on controversial subjects that go beyond mathematical equations, such as the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
Defying gravity: Aspiring astronaut recognized as a role model for women in STEM
In December 2024, mechanical engineering grad Makenna Kuzyk received Polytechnique Montréal’s Order of the White Rose, a $50,000 memorial scholarship given each year to a Canadian female engineering student to pursue graduate studies.
Kuzyk’s career goal is to help keep Canada in the space race and she’s on her way: She obtained her pilot’s licence, and, in January, began her master’s degree in flight test engineering at the International Test Pilot School in London, Ont.
U of A, EPCOR team up to launch water research centre
Based in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, a newly-launched Water Research Centre is aimed at keeping water and wastewater services safe, reliable and sustainable for generations to come.
The centre was kick-started with a contribution of $1.4 million from EPCOR as the founding member and will draw on expertise across faculties to examine problems of water supply, demand, treatment, reuse and infrastructure.
Laser and soil scientists team up for a fast field test
Thanks to the University of Alberta’s expertise in laser science, there is now a fast, portable tool for testing soil samples. Using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, it quickly produces a profile of soil’s essential elements and texture.
That data can help farmers increase crop productivity by, for example, applying the right amount of fertilizer. The device may also eventually determine how much organic carbon could be sequestered in soil at a given site, which could help reduce CO2 emissions.
- 557 number of square metres available in the Elko Engineering Garage, a makerspace for students located in ETLC
U of A engineering researchers lead design and manufacturing of advanced materials for small modular nuclear reactors
Mechanical engineering professor Mostafa Yakout was awarded $2.5 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Enabling Small Modular Reactors Program and related programs and industry partnerships to develop advanced materials for use in Canadian-made, high-performance small modular reactors (SMR).
“Nuclear is considered one of the cleanest types of energy, and Alberta is well positioned to lead the SMR effort in Canada, if not in North America,” says Yakout.
Graduate research tackles Alberta's industrial challenges
Two 3MT (Three-Minute Thesis) finalists are creating unique sustainability solutions for Alberta's energy sector.
Tanay Kumar
Materials engineer Tanay Kumar targets the 1.18 trillion litres of toxic wastewater in tailings ponds. His research involves solar and wind-optimized evaporation systems to reduce pond volume for land reclamation.
Isaac Ziem
Electrical engineer Isaac Ziem’s research converts oil extraction's waste heat into usable electricity. He designed temperature-resilient networks to efficiently harvest this energy, ultimately aiming for deployable sensors to monitor critical infrastructure safely and sustainably.
Co-op Works for Students and Employers
Since 1981, the Faculty of Engineering’s Co-op Program has been a national leader in cultivating young talent and preparing students for an ever-changing global economy.
Our students learn from industry leaders and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Co-op students have access to a team of employment professionals, and employers seamlessly integrate future engineers into their teams.
Joining the co-op program was the best decision of my degree (besides picking chemical engineering, duh). My co-op placements, all in different areas of the energy industry, have given me a strong starting toolkit for the rest of my career. I have it far from all figured out, but through the experiences gained and industry connections made, I have a sense of professional confidence that I can take with me as an engineer in training.
Serena, Fifth-Year Chemical Engineering Co-op student
531
students participated in winter term 2025622
students participated in fall term 20251094
students participated in summer term 20252,287
most student placements in the program's historyCommunity Impact
Our work is a reflection of the world we want to see: one shaped by diversity, openness and intentional design. We see our craft as an act of service, a way to leave our communities better than we found them. From the soil beneath our feet to the distant shores where we practice, we carry a sacred responsibility to the land and the life that defines every place we call home.
The Final Frontier
Mechanical engineering student Priya Manavalan’s dream of becoming an astronaut shifted to aerospace engineering when she joined AlbertaSat, a U of A group partially supported by the ENG Fund, which provided invaluable, real-world satellite experience. As project manager for the Ex-Alta 3 CubeSat, Manavalan says “groups like AlbertaSat are training the next generation of Canadian engineers," adding that her ultimate ambition is to help foster the growing aerospace industry right here in Alberta.
A strong foundation
Honouring Jim Montgomery and empowering future engineers
Thanks to the generosity of a group of industry leaders known as the “Friends of Dr. Jim,” the Jim Montgomery Endowment in Structural Engineering is helping fund graduate students laying a foundation for the future of the field. Named for the U of A grad, former professor and renowned structural engineer, the endowment — $140,000 and counting — celebrates Montgomery, whose contributions are embedded in the infrastructure of Edmonton, from Rogers Place to the Walterdale Bridge and beyond.
Where Our Alumni Live
- 18,498 Edmonton
- 6,978 Calgary
- 2,619 rest of Alberta
- 5,590 Canada
- 2,004 USA
- 1,213 Asia
- 589 International
- 37,992* total alumni
*Some records provide no geographical information.
Your Generosity Makes All the Difference
The world’s most complex challenges require more than just technical skill — they require a culture of collaboration and courage. Your generosity builds that culture. By bolstering scholarships and expanding research horizons, you ensure our faculty remains a place where innovation knows no bounds. With your partnership, we aren't just teaching engineering; we are empowering the people who will engineer a better world.
$16.6 million
Total value of gifts received this fiscal year.
Building Alberta’s capacity for major projects
Alumnus Hal Kvisle has spent a lifetime turning complex ideas into finished projects. Now, with a $3-million gift to establish the Hal Kvisle Professorship in Project Management, he’s investing in the next generation of builders in the Faculty of Engineering — so students graduate ready to deliver large-scale capital projects on time and on budget.
Working with industry partners, the professorship holder develops best practices and creates practical guides, ensuring classroom learning translates to real-world results.
$2M investment from Cenovus Energy boosts business, engineering programs
Cenovus Energy has made a $2-million investment in student success to the Faculty of Engineering and the Alberta School of Business.
In Engineering, the funding will support the Cenovus Energy Engineering Student Success Centre, which offers tutoring by graduate students to nearly 1,400 first-year engineering students in physics, math, chemistry and engineering, giving them a leg up in final exams. Cenovus’s investment will also help the centre build a library of digital video resources.
Student Success
Student Clubs and Project Groups
Over 50 engineering student clubs and project groups provide hands-on opportunities to develop real-world skills. For example, AlbertaSat is building Alberta’s second-ever satellite, which will monitor wildfires. EcoCar designs and manufactures hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, competing annually in the Shell Eco-marathon. In clubs, students apply classroom concepts, make mistakes and learn, preparing them for industry careers.
EcoCar helped me rediscover my love for my degree; it reminds me why I started and has given me a second family.
Jasmine Yip, Project Manager - EcoCar
5
Top 5 place finishes at competitions
22
project groups
750
students in the projects
~$325k
sponsorship funding from industry for the projects*
* including monetary and in-kind sponsorships
Leading Our Centres and Institutes
Our centres and institutes serve as the foundational hubs for global breakthroughs. By narrowing our focus, we deepen our impact — transforming complex challenges into tangible solutions. These are the spaces where boundaries dissolve; where engineers join forces with scientists and scholars across the University of Alberta to redefine what is possible. Here, we bridge the gap between theory and the real world, partnering with industry to turn academic excellence into societal transformation. We are proud to introduce the visionaries leading this charge.
This report highlights achievements from the Faculty of Engineering over the course of January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2025.