Developing Talent
The university continues to create research partnerships with government, industry and non-profits to create new opportunities for our graduate students to gain real world experience. Our partnerships not only support applied research, but also build the capacity of Ryerson’s students for research, entrepreneurship, and employment in a variety of contexts.
An example of one of these partnerships in action is the ADaPT (Advanced Digital and Professional Training) program. Ninety-nine students have participated in the ADaPT program, which provides Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) students with training and internship opportunities to help them transition into the workplace.
Ryerson’s approach to innovative education ensures that our students learn the essential skills to prepare them for future pursuits in research, entrepreneurship, or employment.
Mitacs
Mitacs is a non-profit organization that works with governments and universities across the country to develop research and training programs for industrial/social innovation, creating opportunities for graduate students and post doctoral fellows.
Alan Fung (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) received a Mitacs Accelerate grant to develop cost-effective ‘Net-Zero energy buildings,’ which are powered entirely by renewable energy sources. Working with postdoctoral fellow Raghad Kamel, and partnering with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Fung created a building-integrated system for both solar electricity and thermal energy, optimizing energy generation and storage to reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions while lowering our dependence on natural gas for powering buildings.
Charles Davis (Media) received a Mitacs Accelerate grant to help his industry partner, Divani Films, to showcase the historical value of Fort York through an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience. The project was supported by Matthew Barnes, a graduate student intern in Professional Communications, who provided research services to measure user experience (UX) and visitor experience (VX) at Fort York. The final AR product provided a more engaging virtual experience for visitors to this historical Toronto landmark.
Karen Milligan (Psychology) received a Mitacs Accelerate grant to evaluate the implementation of collaborative and proactive solutions for improving the well being of at-risk students. Working in partnership with Point in Time, a leading children’s mental health agency in Northern Ontario, this project examined changes in child behaviour, emotion regulation, educator stress, and more. Alexandra Irwin, a graduate student intern in Psychology, contributed to the project by conducting qualitative interviews within both the education and mental health systems in rural Canada.
TalentEdge
TalentEdge, administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE), is a program that provides Ontario students and recent graduates with real world experience working on collaborative, industry-driven projects. It is an integral component of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy.
Richard Lachman (Media) received a TalentEdge Internship Program (TIP) grant to work with industry partner Blue Ant Media Solutions on advancing 360-degree video production technology. The project explored 360-degree video technology for the company’s “Love Nature” television and digital content. The student intern, Renan Ozen, worked with producers, production staff, and camera crew, helping to develop and refine production techniques for the use of custom camera rigs, drones, stabilization equipment, and post-processing techniques in international field work, including harsh outdoor environments.
Growing our International Reputation
In 2015-16, Ryerson graduate students from across a range of faculties and disciplines presented their research at conferences abroad, increasing Ryerson's international reputation for excellence in scholarly, research and creative activity.
Parisa Lak, a PhD student in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and member of the Data Science Lab under the supervision of professor Ayse Bener, presented her work on IBM’s Watson technology at the Hawaii International Conference of System Sciences.
Kristen Schaefer, a PhD student in the Communication and Culture Program, presented her work on reducing waste in the fashion industry at the Second Annual Conference for Creative Pattern Cutting in Huddersfield, England.
Tyler Tulloch, a PhD student in Psychology working at Ryerson’s HIV Prevention Lab under the supervision of professor Trevor Hart, presented his research on anxiety and substance use at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.