SOUTHFIELD — The Engineering Society of Detroit launched two more student chapters at the University of Michigan’s main campus in Ann Arbor and at Oakland University in Rochester.
Over a pizza dinner at UM and a pizza lunch at OU, students learned about ESD’s professional development, networking and leadership development programs, as well as its member discount programs.
They also learned about mentoring opportunities for college students at ESD’s Future City Michigan Regional Competition for sixth through eighth graders, and at its SMArT Michigan energy efficient home design contest for high school students.
And, ESD executive director Robert Magee pledged to help college engineering students with the “21st century soft skills” they need to succeed, from resume writing to interviewing skills. And he said ESD’s 120-plus corporate members stand ready to help members of ESD college chapters with internship and co-op opportunities.
Magee pointed out at both schools that Michigan has more engineers per capital than any other state, making it the nation’s engineering capital. He said ESD’s goal is to make sure that No. 1 ranking continues.
And there’s a huge shortage of engineers in Michigan today. ESD’s last job fair had more than 50 companies exhibiting, offering more than 3,000 jobs — and only about 300 people attended. And economic researchers show thousands of engineering job openings going unfilled in Michigan, especially in computer engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and manufacturing and industrial engineering.
Besides UM-Ann Arbor and Oakland U, ESD now has student chapters at Michigan Technological University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan State University, Lawrence Technological University, the University of Detroit Mercy, Wayne State University and Eastern Michigan University. Talks are under way to establish chapters at Saginaw Valley State University, Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University.
Here are a few pictures of both chapters’ launches:
