CONFERENCE AWARENESS
Attending conferences run by organizations such as the Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario (ESSCO) and the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES) is a great opportunity to develop professional and technical skills. They are an excellent way to share ideas with students from other Canadian engineering programs and make connections with organizations that support engineers. Unfortunately, many students are unaware of the opportunities and resources provided by ESSCO and CFES. As VP External, I would strive to increase conference awareness, student engagement and diversity amongst the chosen delegates.
By working with the VP Communications to continue the use of the MES Messenger, I would use this platform as a method of communicating information to students. The emails would include updates regarding dates, applications, and important topics that will be discussed at upcoming conferences, as well as highlights from previous conferences to ensure students are aware of the initiatives of ESSCO and CFES. This method of communication would reach more students in comparison to using only the conference specific email updates.
Communication through the MES Messenger
For the past year conferences have been run virtually, which has allowed for more student engagement due to minimized costs and improved accessibility. With considerable uncertainty surrounding the upcoming year, it is likely that many conferences may be held online once again. I would promote the benefits of participating in online conferences by obtaining testimonials from previous delegates to provide students with a better understanding of what to expect from their experience. I would also work with the department and first year reps to promote these opportunities within their respective cohorts of students.
Promote Online Conferences
When selecting delegates to attend conferences, I would ensure diversity amongst the chosen applicants and improve representation from all McMaster engineering programs, including iBioMed, Computer Science, B-Tech and each individual engineering stream. Everyone has unique ideas to bring to the table, and by increasing the breadth of individuals who attend conferences, it allows for a wider array of perspectives during discussions.