SUNY Oswego’s Engineering Week, sponsored by Micron Technologies, will return March 31 to April 4 to connect current university and high school students with opportunities and career pathways in this ever-growing industry.

The university’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department takes the lead of coordinating events, partnering with University Advancement. Highlights will include:

  • Monday, March 31: Alumni Panel Discussion, 5:30 to 7 p.m., 175 Shineman Center
  • Wednesday, April 2: Engineering Industry Showcase, 3:45 to 5:15 p.m., Shineman Center Nucleus, sponsored by Career Services
  • Thursday, April 3: Women in Engineering Panel Discussion, 5:30 to 7 p.m., 175 Shineman Center, sponsored by Constellation - Nine Mile
  • Friday, April 4: ECE Open House Day for High School Students, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Events are free, and registration is encouraged via the Engineering Week website, oswego.edu/engineering-week.

“The Engineering Week event aims to highlight various opportunities for current and prospective students in the engineering field,” said Mario Bkassiny, associate professor and chair of Oswego’s ECE Department. “It also provides an opportunity for engineering students to connect with alumni and local industry partners.”

The opportunities to network with alumni and potential employers is one of the week’s many strengths, Bkassiny said.

“Engineering students are mostly interested in this event as it provides them with an opportunity to connect with the larger engineering community,” Bkassiny said. “Students get the chance to learn from the panelists about their work experience and the challenges that engineers face in the workplace. These discussions can be very valuable for current students to better understand the work environment and learn how to succeed in the workplace.”

But the target audience spans beyond students due to the range of programs.

“The event is also interesting for high school students, teachers and parents,” Bkassiny said. “It allows them to learn about the opportunities that are available for high school students who plan to pursue an engineering degree at SUNY Oswego.”

Events promote connections

Monday’s panel will feature SUNY Oswego alumni from the electrical and computer engineering and software engineering programs sharing their professional experience and career development after graduating from SUNY Oswego with current students. Refreshments will be served.

For Wednesday’s Engineering Industry Showcase, SUNY Oswego’s Office of Career Services welcomes representatives from local engineering industries, graduate programs and professional organizations to meet with current students in a career fair to discuss their job opportunities. 

Thursday’s panel discussion will feature prominent female engineers who work at local industries talking to current students about the key roles they play at their organizations. Panelists also will discuss the various opportunities that are presented to women in the engineering field. Refreshments will be served.

The Friday open house for high school students will include a tour of the engineering labs and a presentation about the electrical and computer engineering program at SUNY Oswego. A STEM challenge will invite participating student groups to present their project ideas and compete for the chance to win several prizes. This event is open to a maximum of 40 high school students, with registration required; lunch is included in the day’s activities. 

“This day includes, among other activities, a robotics competition where students compete for the best robotic design,” Bkassiny said.

In compliance with the SUNY-wide Child Protection Policy, children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian for the duration of any programs and should not be left unattended.

Strengths and opportunities

Ultimately the week showcases Oswego’s strength in engineering programs and opportunities, Bkassiny noted, which supports high-demand engineering areas such as robotics, embedded systems, wireless communications, modern energy systems and biomedical instrumentation. 

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (B.S.) program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

“Engineering labs at SUNY Oswego are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment that gives students practical experience in engineering applications. Students work under the supervision of faculty members on various projects and research topics,” Bkassiny explained. “The ECE program at SUNY Oswego also maintains a strong relationship with several engineering industry partners who provide various internships and career opportunities for engineering students.”

For more information, visit oswego.edu/engineering-week.