Cultivating High School Leaders through Engineering and Science

Abstract

Engineering and leadership go hand in hand for many within the engineering profession and throughout undergraduate studies. Students are challenged to work in teams, self-assign tasks, manage team members, set deadlines and see projects to completion. The Waterloo engineering Catalyst High School Summer Leadership Program (Catalyst) aligns specifically with the engineering knowledge base, problem analysis, investigation, design, lifelong learning and communication outcomes outlined by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). Catalyst was developed to link engineering problem solving and design with leadership skills.Catalyst students are engaged to develop both soft and hard skills in an effort to display the multitude of connections, benefits and opportunities available to students entering their undergraduate studies. More and more entrepreneurship, design and effective group leadership are all becoming essential traits and skills for students entering the workforce as well for those taking the leap to dream, market, build and succeed with their own ideas or products.Over the past three years, the summer leadership program has grown through trial, feedback and collaborative brainstorming to offer a four-week program that focuses on leadership skills, design, research exposure and entrepreneurship. Through hands-on design thinking and problem solving projects, entrepreneurial group study and by offering leadership experience in a controlled setting a new type of high school student emerges. One who is prepared, excited and inspired to get involved, try, fail and challenge themselves and their peers to create change and solve problems facing their generation.