June 26, 2020
Class of 2020: Dual engineering and business degrees for history-making grads
One decision, two degrees.
It sounds simple enough, but for 2020 草莓污视频导航 graduates Varun Bhatt and Scott McNichol, that decision meant long academic hours and gruelling study schedules聽in exchange for a place in Western Canada鈥檚 first combined degree program in engineering and commerce.
All that鈥檚 left is to officially accept the Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce degrees, and look back on a remarkable achievement.
- Photo聽above: Scott McNichol, left,聽and Varun Bhatt have graduated from Western Canada's first combined degree program in engineering and commerce.
鈥The beauty of the dual degree program is the opportunity to meet some really wonderful people in both engineering and business, and I believe a great legacy of the program going forward will be a stronger collaboration between students in both faculties,鈥 says McNichol.
Two faculties working together
The BSc (Eng)/BComm combined degree program, offered jointly through and , is designed to leverage the strengths of a world-class engineering and business education聽while preparing students for career success in both entrepreneurship and creative thinking.
For McNichol, the experience of the program 鈥斅爄ncluding summer internships in both engineering and finance 鈥斅爃as pointed him toward聽a career in capital markets.
McNichol says he feels well prepared to excel, by offering something unique to employers with his understanding of both the technical and the commerce side of the business equation.
Having an interdisciplinary skill set allows for a deep understanding of a lot of businesses from a technical/engineering sense as well as from a financial perspective.聽I decided to follow my passion for finance and capital markets, and so I鈥檓 beginning my career in investment banking.
Generous gift in name of education
It was a $5-million gift from Clayton and Linda Woitas and family that helped launch the combined degree program, and the collective credentials of the Woitases show a passion for education.
Clayton is a respected leader in the energy sector and Calgary Business Hall of Fame laureate. Linda聽is a double alumna, DipEd鈥76 and Med鈥91, while their children 鈥 Josh Woitas, BComm鈥03 and MBA鈥05, and Carson Woitas,聽BSc鈥08 and MBA鈥16听鈥斅燼re also double alumni from the 草莓污视频导航.
"Our vision to see the 草莓污视频导航 develop a combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce undergraduate degree, that was not being offered anywhere in Western Canada, has come to fruition as we extend our congratulations to the first students completing the program," said Clayton and Linda Woitas聽in a joint statement.
"We are inspired by the talented students that we have met who are enrolled in the joint degree program. They are brilliant, energetic and assertive adults. We are confident that our joint degree graduates will be the finest ambassadors for this program.
"We continue to be optimistic and have confidence in the business opportunities in Calgary and in the energy industry and we want to share this optimism with those of you that are graduating this year and those who will be completing this program in the years to come. The industry downturns and economic challenges provide numerous opportunities for those that have the entrepreneurial spirit and financial wisdom to act."
Students of the Haskayne-Schulich combined degree take a mixture of engineering, science, arts and business courses, and graduate ready to tackle entrepreneurial opportunities in an evolving technology-based global economy.
Entrepreneurial aspirations
Varun Bhatt entered the combined degree program as an experienced entrepreneur, having started an eco-friendly LED lighting business before attending university.
Now, armed with two degrees and the experience of two internships, plus a learning excursion to the London Stock Exchange and meetings with business leaders, Bhatt says he鈥檚 ready to take his dream of sustainable energy to the next level.
My passion is sustainability, so I hope to eventually culminate my career with an executive leadership role, preferably with an energy company.
No regrets
As the first two to graduate from the combined degree program, McNichol and Bhatt are in a unique position of being able to answer a key question for other potential dual degree students:聽Was it worth it?
There is no hesitation: 鈥淭he value that this program brings to you and your career, and I think your personal growth, is having both hats on at the same time听鈥聽technical and commercial,鈥 says Bhatt.
鈥淚t鈥檒l put you in a very small, unique, prestigious group of people when you enter the workforce.鈥
- Read more: Check out many more profiles of the And follow the graduate positivity on social media by following #ucalgarygrad