Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/1523627
26 GEORGIANVIEW 2024 PRINT EDITION NEW TECHNOLOGY Mechatronics program creates leaders for the new industrial revolution From advanced robotics to automated manufacturing and automotive systems, to our own personal electronics and smart home appliances, our world and the transformative technologies it runs on are evolving at an unprecedented pace. To meet these demands, tomorrow's leaders must be ready with the versatile skills needed to adapt, innovate and continue to push boundaries. One such future leader is Kevin Armstrong, a student in the first cohort of the mechatronics program. Kevin's role in this new industrial revolution and tech-driven economy rests on a foundation of interdisciplinary training and a simple yet important question — where to find it? "I knew I was looking for a hands-on learning environment where I could more directly explore my interests in computers, mechanics and electronics," Kevin shares. "It was important for me to not only further develop my skills in programming and computers, but also to nurture my passion for creating and designing things and find opportunities to experiment with a combination of skills across multiple applications. I needed a program that brought all of that together." Enter Georgian's Electromechanical Engineering Technology program — or, as it's more commonly known on campus and in industry environments, Mechatronics. Launched in 2021, Mechatronics at Georgian is a future- focused program uniting the three primary disciplines of electrical, mechanical and computer engineering and exploring the many intersections these fields enable as part of today's most cutting-edge technologies. As Program Coordinator Tanveer Sayed puts it, this mix of | Magna International, the Canadian mobility tech company with a comprehensive global presence, made a $1-million investment in Georgian College in 2020 to help bridge the skills gap, drive change in the field of mechatronics, and prepare students for new industry opportunities. Above, student Kevin Armstrong works in the Magna Mechatronics Lab. To learn more about Georgian's partnership with Magna, visit GeorgianCollege.ca/employers-partners