The University of Victoria is seeking feedback on a proposal to create a professional doctorate program that will grant a Doctor of Engineering (DEng) degree. This program is different from the PhD in Engineering programs currently offered. While PhD programs tend to serve early-career students and prepare them for research-oriented careers, the DEng targets mid-career professionals in engineering and technology who aspire to become innovators and leaders in industry and the public sector by preparing them for or deepening their skills in leadership roles in engineering innovation.

Students in the DEng program will remain full-time employees of their respective organizations. Students will be required to attend tri-annual conferences where course content is delivered in a compact format. The program is expected to take three years to complete, and students will also engage in coursework targeting competencies related to critical areas like sustainable practices, innovation leadership, responsible use of artificial intelligence, protection of intellectual property, and risk management. The DEng conferences will provide valuable mentorship opportunities from industry leaders and senior peers.

The DEng program can be employer-sponsored, in which case the employer will directly benefit from the intellectual property generated by the student. Students who choose to self-fund their programs will be guided on intellectual property protection and entrepreneurship.

Courses may focus on such topics as: research methods, sustainable practice, management and risk, leadership and decolonization, and responsible AI usage among others. The aim of the program is to provide immense value to students and employers in the form of insight about real-world industrial problems and solutions, the formulation of practice-relevant research questions, and the gathering of empirical evidence to evaluate innovative concepts and methods in the context of engineering practice.

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