The 20th anniversary celebration of Conestoga’s Integrated Telecommunications and Computer Technologies (ITCT) and Bachelor of Electronic Systems Engineering (ESE) programs brought together more than 100 students, alumni, faculty, staff and industry partners to honour two decades of innovation, collaboration and achievement.
Nancy Nelson speaks at the 20th anniversary celebration of Conestoga’s Integrated Telecommunications and Computer Technologies (ITCT) and Bachelor of Electronic Systems Engineering (ESE) programs.
At the reunion, lead program developer and first co-ordinator Nancy Nelson presented the development history of the ITCT program, from its origin to the transition into the ESE program. Nelson also acknowledged the faculty, staff and students who contributed to its success and paid tribute to two individuals lost: Kevin Sahadeo, a student from the first class in 2005, and Monzur Kabir, a professor who passed away in 2020.
Program co-ordinator Michael Galle highlighted the program's significant milestones.
“Each graduate represents a life changed, a future shaped, a family supported and a legacy that continues to grow,” Galle told the gathering held in December.
“The numbers tell a powerful story,” Galle said. Since the program’s inception, nearly 200 have graduated including 100 in the past six years alone and another 70 set to graduate in the next four years.
The program recently renewed its accreditation with the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) of Engineers Canada, and there’s been significant strides in upgrading the facilities including equipping labs with state-of-the-art oscilloscopes.
Conestoga was the first college in Ontario to receive accreditation by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board for its ESE and Mechanical Systems Engineering degree programs.
The reunion featured speeches from two alumni, Iolanda Longo and Darren Conley who spoke on behalf of the graduates. Conestoga President John Tibbits, School of Engineering & Technology executive dean Tony Thoma and dean Marilyn Powers also joined the celebration.
“The event was a testament to the enduring impact of the ITCT and ESE programs and their commitment to excellence in education and industry collaboration,” said program manager Andrea Julio.
The Bachelor of Engineering - Electronic Systems Engineering four-year degree program is a project-based learning environment where students will apply engineering and project management principles to solve real-world problems. Students will develop the engineering skills to be job-ready to analyze, design and build the systems and products of tomorrow. Over the four years of the program, you will build your software and electronics engineering know-how and tackle many hands-on projects, leading to an open-ended capstone design project where you will investigate, design, implement and prototype a solution to an important societal problem.
Graduating from this program, which is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of Engineers Canada, satisfies the academic requirements needed to apply for a licence as a professional engineer in Canada.
Conestoga delivers more than 25 degree programs. All three or four-year bachelor’s degrees include one or more guaranteed internships, many being paid co-ops. Students who have studied at another college or university may be eligible for credit transfers or starting Conestoga degree programs at an advanced level.