Blueprints of success: Exploring engineering schools and their impact on innovation

Whether bringing solar-powered lights to classrooms in third-world countries, delivering life-saving medicine to rural hospitals using drones, or designing sustainable buildings that save more energy than they consume, most innovations changing the world have come from engineers. Yet, despite their critical role, nearly one in three engineering positions could remain unfilled each year through at least 2030. A skills gap leaves aspiring engineers unprepared to meet the demand. 

Hence, universities worldwide are focused on preparing students to meet ever-shifting industry demands. A degree from one of these institutions will pave the way for you to work in top corporations and develop solutions to pressing challenges affecting the lives of many — just as luminaires like Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook have. 

For the best chance of following in their footsteps, broaden your horizons by studying at one of these universities. 

At Concordia, gender equity and cultural diversity are celebrated as essential to progress. Hence, almost 30% of its engineering and computer science students are female. Source: Concordia University

Concordia University

At Concordia University’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science, innovation is less of a buzzword and more of a mission. As Quebec’s largest engineering school and one of Canada’s leading institutions, the school empowers students to tackle real-world engineering challenges through its 12 undergraduate and 34 graduate programmes.

These qualifications are delivered across seven departments and institutes that cover Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Centre for Engineering in Society; Chemical and Materials Engineering; Computer Science and Software Engineering; Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; and  Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering.

All pathways emphasise the school’s commitment to experiential learning. Concordia’s co-op programme offers an immersion into career-shaping opportunities, allowing you to earn a salary, explore diverse fields, and forge connections. It’s even seen students building essential infrastructure for a resilient future on Cree territory in northern Quebec, advancing designs for SpaceX’s Starship programme, and participating in NASA’s zero-gravity experiments to tackle challenges for lunar and Martian exploration.

There are plenty of opportunities to apply knowledge on campus too. For example, research at the Gina Cody School addresses some of society’s most pressing issues, from uncovering hidden cyber threats to tackling climate change. Professors here rank among the top researchers worldwide, with groundbreaking projects like a Concordia-led framework for transparent AI applications and impact-driven research on carbon-neutral, climate-resilient cities. The school’s partnerships with industry heavyweights like Ericsson enhance your access to research opportunities, internships, and of course, networking.

Apply to the Gina Cody School at Concordia University today.

At the Cockrell School of Engineering, students go beyond “learning by doing”. Source: Cockrell School of Engineering – UT Austin/Facebook

University of Texas at Austin

Situated in the heart of Austin — named “The Best Place to Live in the US” by US News and World Report — the University of Texas’s Cockrell School of Engineering is an engine for the city’s evolution as a tech powerhouse and embodies its innovative spark. It is the top-ranked engineering school with the number one programme in Texas and a global leader in technology advancement and engineering education.

With 11 undergraduate programmes, 13 graduate programmes, and over 20 research centres, you will find an academic experience rich with versatility, opportunity and study. Here, students go beyond “learning by doing”.

You will create your own path through a multidisciplinary and hands-on approach. All of this happens in the departments of: Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics; Biomedical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering.

Little surprise then that Cockrell graduates leave and become industry leaders. How is this achieved? Through the school’s collaboration with major companies such as Dell, National Instruments, Apple, IBM, Samsung, Google and many others, where they are often hired.

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, you can choose from 12 undergraduate majors, postgraduate programmes from nine departments and 27 online and accelerated programmes. Source: UW-Madison College of Engineering/Facebook

University of Wisconsin-Madison

At the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s College of Engineering, students grow as thinkers, doers, professionals and leaders. Be it in state-of-the-art classrooms or laboratories, through internships and co-operative work experiences, student organisations, volunteer work, or creative projects, students learn by doing — facilitated by the TEAM Lab or makerspace.

Here, you’ll learn from top-flight faculty who are at the forefront of creating new knowledge in their fields and join any of more than 50 registered engineering student organisations. You can choose from 12 undergraduate majors, postgraduate programmes from nine departments and 27 online and accelerated programmes.

The interdisciplinary on-campus degree programmes offer graduate-level degrees in Design and Innovation; Environmental Chemistry and Technology; Freshwater and Marine Sciences; and Manufacturing Systems Engineering.

Being a student here means you’ll benefit from the college’s international study, field research, internships, laboratory experience, entrepreneurial opportunities and more. That’s not all. You’ll also benefit from the college’s active knowledge- and technology-transfer partnerships with government and industry.

Source: Santa Clara University School of Engineering/Facebook

Santa Clara University

Some of the best engineers in the world come from Santa Clara University‘s School of Engineering. Dedicated to providing excellence in the engineering field, the school fuels your curiosity with lessons that happen in and out of the classroom. Here, you will experience a unique form of engineering education that integrates deep technical core curricula with soft skills essential for career success.

Across pathways, the school emphasise experiential learning. Whether you join a leading student organisation or intern at a Silicon Valley company, there are many ways to hone your practical skills. It also believes in the power of collaboration, where you will not only work with faculty members but also with industry experts from NASA, who love sharing what students can expect in the engineering field.

A Santa Clara goes beyond borders, too, as its School of Engineering engages with international research, immersion experiences, and community outreach projects that provide real-world knowledge. Participation helps students build empathy while advancing their technical skills and engineering acumen. From joining forces with a nonprofit in Guatemala to collaborating with a women’s tile-making cooperative in Rwanda, there are always opportunities to test your engineering skills in new settings. 

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International