The Engineering Strategies and Practice team is currently seeking clients to work with our students on meaningful, real-world design challenges. If you, a colleague or a graduate student have a few hours to support student learning between February and April, we would be grateful for your participation!
Who Can Participate
Faculty, staff, graduate students and members of the broader community are all welcome. We recognize that time is limited, however even a modest commitment can make a meaningful contribution to student learning and professional development.
Time Commitment
Participants will be asked to:
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Meet twice (approximately one hour each) with a student design team (the students will come to you!).
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Read two student design reports (feedback is welcome; grading is not required).
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Optional: Attend a brief (20-minute) final presentation in April.
Project Ideas
Students should be tasked with solving a problem you are facing. Effective projects are open-ended and need not be highly technical. Projects cannot be research projects, but may:
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Support ongoing activities in research laboratories
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Address everyday or operational challenges
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Contribute to initiatives in organizations or communities you are connected with
If you are unsure whether your project is a good fit, please reach out to Jason Bazylak for further information.
Examples of Past and Current Projects
- Designing a space efficient hybrid laptop / desktop computer station for the computer labs.
- Self-administered eyedropper that aligns and dispenses the correct dose to the eye.
- Classroom aid to help a nine-year-old with ADHD and dyslexia self-manage impulsive outbursts.
- Wood-flooring factory workflow to shorten manufacturing time.
- A software-independent process to track inventory and reduce spoilage for a food bank.
- Custom devices for use in fume hoods.
Want more information?
Visit our website detailed information on this initiative!
How to Participate
Please submit your project using the ESP Client Intake Form by Friday, December 12, 2025.
For questions or to talk through project ideas, please contact: Jason Bazylak at Jason.Bazylak@utoronto.ca