Dalhousie University's faculty of engineering is advancing its efforts to increase access to engineering education for equity-deserving groups, thanks to an approximately $1 million gift from the Johnson Scholarship Foundation. The 27 February announcement supports the faculty’s Inclusive Pathways to Engineering Careers Program (IPP), which launched in 2023. The program was developed to remove barriers and create tailored pathways for underrepresented groups in engineering.
Initially, the IPP focuses on Indigenous and African Nova Scotian and Black students, offering not only financial aid through scholarships but also comprehensive support, including mentorship and career coaching. These efforts aim to help students thrive academically and professionally, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce that better reflects and serves the community.
The foundation has a longstanding partnership with Dalhousie, having previously funded scholarships for 160 students with disabilities and contributed to the Health Sciences Pathway Initiative.
Dalhousie President Kim Brooks emphasized that this donation is an investment in both the students' futures and the broader community, reinforcing the shared belief that education should be accessible to all. “This donation is more than just financial support—it is an investment in the future of our students and the strength of our community,” said Brooks.
“These efforts will make the program welcoming, inclusive, and safe so students from equity-deserving communities thrive, and, in turn, make the field of engineering more diverse, inspired, and robust,” said Sherida Hassanali, assistant dean for equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
The program also collaborates with Imhotep’s Legacy Academy (ILA), which works with African heritage students in grades 6–12, helping bridge the achievement gap and introducing them to STEM fields. The first cohort of Indigenous students began in September 2024, with a second cohort of African Nova Scotian and Black students set to start in September 2025. The program aims to graduate at least 40 students from these groups by 2029, laying a strong foundation for increased representation at Dalhousie and in the engineering profession.
“Throughout my engineering degree at Dalhousie, I have often been placed in rooms with few people that look like me,” said Elisabet Astatkie, a fifth-year industrial engineering student. “Making conscious efforts to increase the number of Black students enrolled in the program will help to increase the proportion of Black engineering professionals and diversify the workforce. I’m grateful for the faculty of engineering and their conscious efforts to adopt this pathways program.”