Creating opportunities and a welcoming community

At Lassonde, we’re committed to building a welcoming environment where access, opportunity and belonging support the success of our students, faculty and staff. This year, we continued to expand meaningful pathways into engineering and technology — creating learning experiences that unlock potential, strengthen community and help people shape their futures.   

Opening access early 

Through our k2i academy, we are transforming access to STEM education across Ontario and opening doors for students who have been historically excluded from these fields. In the summer of 2025, the Bringing STEM to Life: Work-Integrated Learning program supported 100 high-school students in paid research roles, earning an Ontario high-school course credit in subjects such as Physics or Grade 12 English. They worked alongside 45 undergraduate mentors, faculty, graduate students and teachers on projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, gaining hands-on experience in research and real workplace environments. These experiences spark interest early and support long-term access and participation in our engineering and technology programs.

Work-integrated learning & real-world opportunities 

Our Digital Technologies program at Markham Campus — Canada’s first fully work-integrated degree program — continues to grow significantly, with strong increases in both student participation and the number of employer partners employing our learners. Students spend the majority of their time gaining paid industry experience while maintaining structured academic study. They are supported by a dedicated professional skills coach, who helps amplify the learning that takes place in the workplace and through the university — building confidence, professional growth and career-ready skills. 

The program removes financial barriers by enabling students to earn while they learn. With a rapidly expanding network of employer partners, Digital Technologies is strengthening the talent pipeline for the ICT sector and supporting equitable access to careers with real impact. 

Advancing equity, community & leadership 

Events like the Women in STEM Faculty Meetup foster meaningful networks, mentorship and collaboration, strengthening representation and shared leadership across York. 

We continue to build programs that support equity and belonging for students and the broader academic community. Through mentorship initiatives like the Indigenous and Black Engineering and Technology (IBET) PhD Project, faculty members such as Professor Alvine Boaye Belle are supporting the next generation of researchers and breaking down systemic barriers in STEM. 

Hands-on learning, community & research experience 

Across the School, students are gaining experiences that build skills, community and purpose. At the SDG-focused Undergraduate Summer Research Conference, more than 70 undergraduate researchers presented projects ranging from Alzheimer’s diagnostics to autonomous vehicle technologies, supported through LURA, NSERC USRA and donor-funded internships. 

Our NSERC CREATE programs brought together over 120 trainees from more than 18 universities, advancing solutions in biotechnology, space robotics, microsystems and geomagnetic disturbance while building networks and professional skills. 

Student-led teams such as Arbalest Rocketry, the York University Robotics Society and Lassonde Motorsports create welcoming spaces where students can experiment, take risks, build friendships and find community within community. These environments foster mentorship, collaboration and resilience — helping students learn through hands-on practice while forming supportive networks that last well beyond graduation. 

Discover how Lassonde is creating opportunities and a welcoming community.