How students’ big ideas come to life

Education and experience go hand-in-hand at Ryerson. From zone learning to internships, students have access to paths that expand their learning inside and outside the classroom.

Presented by the Office of the President and Office of the Provost and Vice-President, Academic, the Student Showcase is an annual event where the Ryerson community celebrates student achievements in co-curricular projects and initiatives. From the Ryerson Concrete Canoe Team and Ryerson Artspace to the Ryerson Sports and Business Association, a variety of groups and interests are represented. Students will show how their projects and initiatives allow them to develop valuable skills they can apply in their future careers.

With student groups from across all faculties, President Mohamed Lachemi says the Student Showcase demonstrates what makes Ryerson unique. “Our students are constantly challenging the status quo,” he says. “Here we can see their big ideas come to life and how they’re making a true impact on campus, on our economy, and in our society.”

Expanded learning

For example, Gabriel Casciano, a fourth-year engineering student and captain of the Ryerson Rams Robotics (R3) team, says that experiential learning and participation in co-curricular activities has provided him with an alternative to learning from tests and assignments.

“R3 has opened my eyes to thinking about engineering in a different way,” he says. “It’s changed the way I approach problems and find solutions. There is no one way to teach people.”

This year, the multidisciplinary, 30-plus team will be exhibiting their RoboSub, an advanced autonomous underwater robot, and Mars Rover, a cutting-edge, desert crawling piece of robotic technology. Both projects participated in international design competitions this past year.

Interdisciplinary perspectives

Siu Mee Cheng, a policy studies PhD candidate, will be at this year’s Student Showcase representing the annual Ryerson Health Policy, Programming and Practice Event. Cheng is part of the organizing committee of the conference, which looks at issues in health policy-making and service delivery, and provides professional development opportunities for Ryerson students from across disciplines.

Cheng is excited to announce that the conference has formed a partnership with the International Foundation for Integrated Care, which will open up the Ryerson Health Policy, Programming and Practice Event to an international audience. She says the interdisciplinary nature of the conference and support from Ryerson provides students with opportunities to establish connections in the community and expand their understanding of the healthcare sector.

“For someone who came in as a mature student, being able to apply theory and models to practice has enhanced my learning experience,” she says about her role in organizing the event. “Choosing to invite practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and leaders from health care and from other related social science fields allows students to more broadly connect the external community to academia.”

From course unions and conferences to design teams and art publications, the Student Showcase is a fantastic opportunity for students, faculty, and the greater Ryerson community to see the results of student work supported by the university. As Michael Benarroch, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, states, “Student engagement, experiential learning, and a drive to get involved in the community can turn a great experience at Ryerson into an outstanding one.”

This year’s Student Showcase will take place on Wednesday March 4, 2020 in the Upper Gym in Kerr Hall from 5 to 7 p.m.