John Ng, president and owner of the JNE Group of Companies and JNE Consulting, has gifted $100,000 to the Department of Civil Engineering to establish the JNE Experiential Learning Fund. This fund will provide civil engineering students in the innovative Introduction to Civil Engineering (CIVENG 2X03) course with the opportunity to engage in hands-on, real-world learning experiences.
Taught by Lydell Wiebe, Chair of Civil Engineering, this course combines classroom and field-based learning to give students the opportunity to explore civil engineering in urban and natural environments, practice using industry-standard software and engage with local firms, sites and facilities.
“We in Civil Engineering are very excited about this continuing partnership with JNE,” says Wiebe. “This fund is a game-changer in our ability to provide McMaster students with a high-quality, hands-on experiential learning experience.”
The JNE Experiential Learning Fund was announced tomark the 25th anniversary of JNE’s establishment of the Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering, underscoring the company’s long-standing relationship with McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering.
In September, Ng addressed students at the beginning of a CIVENG 2X03 lecture, highlighting JNE’s long-standing relationship with McMaster and the opportunities it has created.
“This is an exciting opportunity to support an initiative that enhances student engagement and brings them closer to real-world engineering,” explains Ng. “I look forward to seeing the positive impact this fund will have on future civil engineers and to strengthening our connection with McMaster.”
Ng was also joined by four recent McMaster Engineering alumni – now employees at JNE Consulting – who reflected on their time at McMaster and shared how their experiences shaped their career. Their reflections gave students an inside look at the path from classroom learning to professional practice and highlighted the value of experiential education.
From left to right: Lucas Cadete (‘22), Paavani Joshi (‘23), John Ng, Lydell Wiebe, Maya Carducci (‘24) and Dhwani Rao (‘23).
Heather Sheardown, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, emphasized the broader impact of this relationship. “The partnership between McMaster and JNE Consulting has been vital in fostering a generation of skilled engineers,” said Sheardown.
“This fund will transform education for our civil engineering students by augmenting experiences and project-based learning, helping them engage with the practical challenges – and thrill of discovery – of civil engineering.”