News and Events

As Windsor’s NextStar Energy plant ramps up battery module production, local engineering students are gaining hands-on experience and honing skills vital to the region’s emerging electric vehicle sector.

A joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, the plant is Canada’s first facility of its kind to begin production. Construction on the facility broke ground in 2022, with the project celebrated as a major win for the community, expected to create 2,500 jobs.

Among those jobs is the first cohort of co-op students from the University of Windsor, who have had the opportunity to play a role in the plant’s launch.

At the University of Windsor, two teams — red and blue — are locked in a strategic battle, working toward the same goal: safeguarding the future of automotive cybersecurity.

These teams, operating from the Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, better known as SHIELD, are focused on opposing areas of security solutions for the auto sector.

With an eye on the future, SHIELD, the only centre of its kind in North America, has the goal of ensuring vehicles of tomorrow are safe and secure.

“I always go back to the difference between computers and cars,” said co-founder Mitra Mirhassani. “We typically keep our computers close and secure, while cars connect to networks outside our control when parked or at a repair shop. This lack of control raises safety concerns, especially since cars can physically harm us if their security systems fail.”

Fall Open House promises a special treat to one visitor to the Centre for Engineering Innovation: a custom chess set created by technologists in the facility.

The set will be the second machined by engineering technologists Paul Mendes and Kevin Harkai. The original went to first-year engineering student Mollie Lane, whose entry was drawn from those submitted at the last open house.

Bill Van Heyst, dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said the set is a testament to the exceptional skills of the support staff, showcasing their craftsmanship and elevating their role from behind-the-scenes to front-stage innovators.

A new cohort of more than 200 Master of Engineering students has joined the campus community, and were welcomed with an orientation session on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

The students come from all over the world to acquire advanced skills, hands-on knowledge, and experience in industry, which prepares them for an engineering career in Canada.

The session included addresses by dean of engineering Bill Van Heyst, engineering’s wellness counselling staff and the International Student Centre, in addition to presentations on academic policies, course requirements, and faculty advising.

Darryl Danelon, acting associate dean for professional programs, says the event marked his favourite day so far in the position.