Reconciliation in the undergraduate engineering curriculum

Dr. Ian Foulds with students in a lab looking at a reading from an experiment.
Ian Foulds with School of Engineering students at UBCO.

Edited: June 29, 2022

UBC Okanagan

As part of the work of reconciliation in engineering study and practice, Dr. Ian Foulds and Dr. Jannik Haruo Eikenaar have implemented a scaffolded course of study through the four program years of the undergraduate engineering curriculum in the School of Engineering (SOE) at the Okanagan campus.

The project focuses on preparing students to understand why and how to engage in good faith with Indigenous communities in engineering contexts.

The project focuses on preparing students to understand why and how to engage in good faith with Indigenous communities in engineering contexts. There is a tremendous need for this understanding: professional engineering practice must be responsive to the legal and ethical demands of consultation and engagement, and through this project Ian and Jannik are preparing the students for a significantly changed work environment.

The specific interventions are:

  • Year One: introduction of foundational concepts in Indigenous reconciliation through study of sustainable design
  • Year Two: development of understanding of Indigenous communities’ histories and contexts through completion of a case study
  • Year Three: development of understanding of Indigenous histories and contexts as they pertain to engineering project management
  • Year Four: development of understanding of legal and ethical considerations in consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities

Complementing the curricular interventions, they have developed co-curricular mini-courses in Intercultural Foundations and Indigenous Foundations. These courses are available to students, staff, and faculty. Additionally, Ian and Jannik host a monthly meeting with members of Aboriginal Programs and Services, faculty from other academic units, and students, staff, and faculty in SOE.

Meet the Developers

Dr. Ian Foulds

As Associate Professor of UBCO's school of Engineering and a UBC Okanagan Principal’s Research Chair in Indigenous Reconciliation in Engineering, Ian is passionate about teaching students how to engage and consult with Indigenous communities in engineering contexts.

As an engineer and member of the Métis Nation British Columbia, Ian understands the importance of connecting engineers and aspiring engineers with Indigenous peoples and culture. Read more here: Ian Foulds (ubc.ca)

Dr. Jannik Haruo Eikenaar

Dr. Eikenaar is an Assistant Professor of UBCO's School of Engineering. He consistently engages students in respectful, inclusive engagement through active, innovative learning strategies.

Read about Dr. Eikenaar's Teaching Excellence and Innovation award and his UBCO biography

UBC Vancouver

Agnes d'Entremont photo
Agnes d'Entremont

Through UBC Applied Science Department of Mechanical Engineering, Associate Professor of Teaching Agnes d’Entremont has created a MECH 2 course that embeds decolonization in a thoughtful and inspiring way. Learn more and enroll in the MECH 2 EDI Curriculum Demo.

Call to Action

Indigenous people have been speaking their truth for a long time. No longer should we say we have no words. We need to find words and take action. Demand more of yourself and our country. Continue to learn more about Indigenous people, Indigenous issues and Indigenous history. No matter what our disciplines, background or identity, we carry a duty to hear the truth about the genocide of Indigenous people and confront our past. Demand action of yourself.

Learn More

It is important to recognize the that anti-Indigenous racism is still very present in Canadian academia and everyday life. Get educated by reading Dr. Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond's report: In Plain Sight.

Explore Equity, Diversity, Inclusion + Indigeneity in UBC Applied Science

Commit to creating a community where human rights are respected and equity is embedded in all areas of academic, work and campus life.

Learn more about Applied Science EDI.I

Discover Student Experiences

UBC Applied Science students are people who are passionate about their chosen field — architecture, landscape architecture, community and regional planning, engineering and nursing — and those that inspire others by making meaningful contributions to the betterment of society.

Browse Student and Alumni Spotlights
UBC Crest The official logo of the University of British Columbia. Arrow An arrow indicating direction. Arrow in Circle An arrow indicating direction. Caret An arrowhead indicating direction. E-commerce Cart A shopping cart. Time A clock. Chats Two speech clouds. Facebook The logo for the Facebook social media service. Social Media The globe is the default icon for a social media platform. TikTok The logo for the TikTok social media platform. Calendar Location Home A house in silhouette. Information The letter 'i' in a circle. Instagram The logo for the Instagram social media service. Linkedin The logo for the LinkedIn social media service. Location Pin A map location pin. Mail An envelope. Telephone An antique telephone. Play A media play button. Search A magnifying glass. Arrow indicating share action A directional arrow. Speech Bubble A speech bubble. Star An outline of a star. Twitter The logo for the Twitter social media service. Urgent Message An exclamation mark in a speech bubble. User A silhouette of a person. Vimeo The logo for the Vimeo video sharing service. Youtube The logo for the YouTube video sharing service. Future of work A logo for the Future of Work category. Inclusive leadership A logo for the Inclusive leadership category. Planetary health A logo for the Planetary health category. Solutions for people A logo for the Solutions for people category. Thriving cities A logo for the Thriving cities category. University for future A logo for the University for future category.