Jan. 15, 2025
Seneca News
Seneca Polytechnic students pursue Queen’s University engineering degrees through new pathway
Seneca Polytechnic and the ONCAT (Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer) are celebrating the successes of the inaugural cohort of students in the new Smith Engineering Bridge pathway. These students recently transitioned from a diploma to a degree program and joined their peers in the Smith Engineering Faculty at Queen’s University.
This past September, 13 advanced diploma graduates from six Ontario polytechnics and colleges began their third year of engineering studies at Queen’s University through the pathway, working towards a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering. Among these students were three Seneca Civil Engineering Technology graduates. Before joining their classmates on campus this fall, these students completed two part-time online courses and a full-time summer semester of foundational curriculum to help them transition smoothly to the university environment.
The pathway has been receiving top marks from students in the program.
“This pathway is essential for gaining hands-on experience and further developing my skills, which will be crucial for securing an engineering intern position,” said Amirreza Shavakh, a Seneca Civil Engineering Technology graduate currently taking part in the pathway.
“Beyond the academic qualifications, the relationships built with fellow students and professors at Queen’s will serve as invaluable professional connections that will support my career development."
During Shavakh’s time at Seneca, he participated in the Heavy Construction Association of Toronto scholarship program, gaining eight months of hands-on experience as a construction coordinator at Dufferin Construction. This role helped him develop key skills in problem-solving, risk mitigation and safety management, shaping his professional outlook and emphasizing the importance of efficiency and safety in the industry.
“I can confidently say that enrolling in the Civil Engineering Technology program at Seneca was the perfect decision to turn my passion into a career,” Shavakh said, reflecting on his time in the program so far. “It aligns perfectly with my ambition to contribute to major infrastructure projects and pursue my professional engineering goals.”
Shavakh hopes to secure an engineering intern position to deepen his expertise and eventually contribute to large-scale development projects, particularly in project estimation and feasibility consultations.
The Smith Engineering Bridge pathway is supported by funding from ONCAT.
To learn more about Shavakh’s experience with the Civil Engineering Technology pathway from Seneca, read his Success Beyond story featured online.