Student Showcase: Reine Nisheiwat
As a part of the MEIE graduate program, Reine Nisheiwat was automatically enrolled in TMU’s Innovation Boost Zone (IBZ), later to be hired for the role of Special Projects Assistant. IBZ is an early stage incubator focusing on technological innovation and immerses learners into an environment that supports problem exploration and develops entrepreneurial thinking. While enrolment is automatic for MEIE students, undergraduates and graduates from all faculties, as well as stage-relevant ventures, are encouraged to participate at IBZ and its various programs!
One of the first things Reine noticed was how involved everyone at IBZ is. “There’s a lot happening at IBZ. Brainstorming, coming up with ideas. It’s a really big shared space where you get to overhear a lot of cool projects.”
Working with IBZ and reflecting on her educational and professional career, Reine mentioned that she believes experiential learning goes beyond co-ops and placements. In fact it “isn’t something you only find in a project, classroom, or job. It is a standard that you measure any opportunity by. It is your personal built up criteria of what factors will contribute to the growth you want to see in yourself.” She has even come up with a formula for this way of thinking:
Experiential learning = you + self-reflection (knowing your goals, values, needs) + preparation (researching, showing up, reaching out) + consistency (staying persistent and accountable) + a framework for you to measure your growth (what does success look like to you?) + an opportunity (self-made or stumbled upon)
She shared how her Master's program urged her to look beyond traditional educational methods and instead, empowered her to “test the potential of [her] interests, perspective, and possible venture opportunities.”
Reine explained the impactful support, programs, and resources IBZ provides, which have accompanied students and ventures in establishing their ideas. Within IBZ, there are a variety of programs, initiatives, and activities to account for different interests and needs. For example, the Apprentice Program connects students with ventures at IBZ to create work opportunities; while Lab2Market (external link) answers the call for groundbreaking minds in STEM whose ideas have the potential to be commercialized. Students can also join design and research teams, backed by IBZ, exploring social problems and ways technology can tackle them. Additional resources, events, and opportunities can be found on the IBZ website.
Reine’s role at IBZ supports the exciting mission of growing the incubator’s focus on technology for social impact and public goods. The IBZ Infobesity Challenge (external link) was one of the first initiatives acting on this mission. The premise of this challenge is to gather a group of bright TMU minds to address the problem of information overload and social media addiction. In partnership with Readocracy (external link) , a Canadian start-up bringing integrity back to the internet, students explored the state of digitality, online behavior, information literacy, and more.The IBZ Infobesity Challenge is the first major project Reine was involved in and believes it was a milestone for her pursuit in wanting to address social, wicked, problems. She encourages TMU students, and tech-driven social ventures, to stay tuned to IBZ’s growing support for, and interest in, this space.
“How might we better equip our youth with the necessary skills for digitality and online threats,” was the big question her MEIE venture opportunity explored. The project came about during the COVID-19 pandemic when she realized how ill-prepared many vulnerable groups in our society are when it comes to further entering digitality (our condition of living in a digital culture aside from the in-person reality we have). While COVID-19 is a standalone event, Reine believes digitality will become more fierce with every technological innovation, and she would like to make sure vulnerable groups are accounted for so that they may also have a healthy, joyful, and safe experience.
Currently, Reine is focusing on understanding the intersection of technology, social impact, and public goods for herself as well as IBZ. She is hoping to speak with students, teachers, ventures, and organizations within and outside of TMU who may have insights, interests, or ideas to collaborate! Connect with Reine via email or LinkedIn (external link) for more information!
