The connection was made - UOIT Connects 2010 is a success

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) opened its doors on May 4, welcoming local and regional partners to its north Oshawa campus for UOIT Connects 2010.

Generously sponsored by Durham Region Economic Development and Tourism the educational and networking event allowed partners to familiarize themselves with the campus, interact with students and faculty from the university and mingle with key local and regional business and community members.

Representatives from Ontario Power Generation, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the City of Oshawa were among the many business, government and community members who comprised a strong turnout at the event.

UOIT President, Dr. Ronald Bordessa and Dr. Michael Owen, associate provost, Research, were on hand to welcome the attendees and thank them for their support.

"It's great to see that so many businesses and people from the community who support UOIT joined us for this event," said Dr. Owen. "Partnerships with industry and community organizations are very important to UOIT as they help create the leading-edge learning environment the university is known for. Thanks to our partnerships, students have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, which opens doors to challenging and rewarding careers for them."

Those who attended were given the chance to tour the campus and its state-of-the-art labs and facilities - including the new General Motors of Canada Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), an innovative and commercial research and development centre, set to open later this year.

As well, professors representing five of the seven faculties on campus gave insightful presentations on their research focus and topics varied from hate crime to sustainable energy to health informatics in neonatology.

UOIT students were also on hand and shared their experiences regarding their co-op, work placement and internship opportunities provided by UOIT's community and industry partners. Others still, were given the chance to show off what they've been working on during the school year - including the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) newest racecar, which is set to hit the speedways of Michigan and California this summer.

The afternoon concluded with a wine and cheese and networking reception that allowed business leaders, community members, students and faculty to connect, share ideas and build new partnerships.

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.