Recognizing that many of tomorrow's real-world problems will be solved by today's students, Cenovus Energy is making a significant investment in fostering student success at the University of Alberta.
The company has provided $2 million in funding to the Faculty of Engineering and the Alberta School of Business to help students develop critical thinking skills and adapt to ever-changing, increasingly complex industries.
Founded in 2019, the Engineering Student Success Centre — renamed the Cenovus Energy Engineering Student Success Centre — offers one-on-one tutoring and mock exams to nearly 1,400 first-year engineering students in physics, math and chemistry, as well as engineering. Taught by engineering graduate students, the tutoring gives them a leg up in final exams.
"I truly do not believe I would have done nearly as well last year without the ESSC, especially in first semester," says second-year engineering student Harold Kalinga. "It is an essential resource for incoming engineering students."
"It's such a great investment in future engineers, especially because first year is tough on students and there are so many who need a little extra help adjusting," says the centre's director, Peggy Jankovic.
"When we offer the academic support they need, we see more students get placed in second-year programs and become great engineers."
In addition to providing funding for graduate tutors, Cenovus's investment will also help the centre build a library of digital video resources, says Jankovic.
"We are profoundly grateful for Cenovus's exceptional partnership and generous support," says Simaan AbouRizk, dean of the Faculty of Engineering. "This remarkable contribution to the Faculty of Engineering is a true game-changer, empowering our students with the resources they need to innovate, excel and ultimately become the next generation of engineering leaders."
In the Alberta School of Business, Cenovus's investment will support programs including the Student Experience Fund, which affords experiential learning opportunities through study tours, case competitions, conferences, student clubs and field trips.
It will also support the Cenovus Energy Impact Series, in which business students take a series of courses over four years focused on tackling challenges facing the local community. The Impact Series offers companies a way to support students in gaining hands-on learning experiences and career-ready skills.
Third-year business student Maya Bezubiak was assigned a project on revitalizing Edmonton's downtown core — a topic close to her heart as a native Edmontonian.
Her team brainstormed an ambitious idea: transforming 104th Street into a vibrant, pedestrian-only zone. Their innovative concept resonated so strongly that it earned them a spot in the finals, where they presented to the business school dean and city planners.
This hands-on experience proved invaluable, leading Bezubiak to secure a rare first-year internship with the Downtown Business Association and sparking her passion for case competitions, in which she has now competed more than 60 times, including at a recent competition in Amsterdam.
"It's about developing solutions and presenting them to people who can turn ideas into action — a vital experience that employers increasingly seek," Bezubiak states, adding that it's "the very reason I love business school."
Leo Wong, professor and associate dean of education in the Alberta School of Business, explains that the four-year series adopts a progressive, multi-stage approach to grand urban challenges.
"The idea is for them not to wait to graduate to get involved. We are leaning into the university's promise of leading with purpose," he says. "The Cenovus Energy Impact Series has amplified the appetite our students have for dealing with real-world issues."
"We're proud to partner with the University of Alberta to support student success through this $2-million investment," says Jeff Lawson, executive vice-president of corporate development and chief sustainability officer with Cenovus. "Together, we're enhancing academic outcomes for students today and helping shape a workforce that's ready for the future of energy."
The comprehensive and multifaceted partnership between the U of A and Cenovus is part of the university's Shape The Future campaign, which supports experiential learning, student spaces, and access and affordability, as well as student services such as mental health, Safe House, the Campus Food Bank and other areas. The campaign is ensuring that students have the support they need to be successful throughout their U of A experience and beyond.
