Ulrich Njengoue, a student in multidisciplinary design and cyber security, has always been fascinated by data, how it tells a story, informs decisions, and shapes communities. Through CityStudio Ottawa, he had the opportunity to turn that passion into real-world experience. He worked with the City of Ottawa to analyze and interpret population data to inform city planning and public safety.
“I learned by doing, which made this an incredibly effective way to gain job skills and professional knowledge,” says Ulrich. “The experience aligned perfectly with my career goals.”
As part of his CityStudio Ottawa community engagement placement, Ulrich collected and analyzing population data for the City of Ottawa. He developed skills in data visualization, interpreting trends, and filtering large datasets to extract meaningful insights.
“This placement allowed me to discover interesting information about Ottawa, things I wouldn’t have known otherwise,” he says. “As an immigrant myself, I learned where people from my community live across the city and how demographic trends influence city planning. Now, I know how to navigate the city's database to find relevant information.”
Beyond technical skills, Ulrich saw firsthand how data plays a crucial role in public safety, city services, and decision-making. “Understanding population movement and trends is key to designing better policies and services,” he adds. “I’ll use this experience to refine and humanize the data, making it more accessible and meaningful.”
Ulrich was part of a milestone group; the latest batch of students who helped CityStudio Ottawa surpass 1,000 participants since its launch. This achievement highlights the growing impact of the initiative in providing experiential learning opportunities that bridge the gap between academic studies and real-world applications.
The data analysis team at the City of Ottawa benefit from the contributions of students who participate.
Darrell Bridge, Strategic Principal for Data Analysis, explains: “What I have noticed is that we have students applying to the city all the time, and their résumés do not have a lot of job experience — they have to rely on their educational experience. Students who have participated in CityStudio Ottawa projects have experience they can refer to in a job interview.”
“There is so much creativity in terms of how students approached what seemed to be straightforward problems, and the level of innovation involved with their solutions.”
Paul Steves, Strategic Principal for Data Analysis
CityStudio Ottawa was launched in November 2022 by the University of Ottawa’s Community Engagement and Employability Team, the Faculty of Medicine and the City of Ottawa. This initiative was designed to promote experiential learning opportunities for students, all while improving residents’ health and well-being in the nation’s capital.
A year later, the initiative expanded to include new partners, Carleton University and Algonquin College. This boosted efforts to launch hands-on projects and co-create solutions to local challenges.
City staff develop ideas for projects that align with the priorities of Ottawa’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan and the City of Ottawa Strategic Plan. The staff are then matched with experts from the academic partner institutions, and students co-create solutions with city staff, faculty, and community members.
Since its launch, CityStudio Ottawa has given our students hands-on experience tackling real-world challenges while making a meaningful impact on the community. As the initiative grows, the University of Ottawa remains committed to experiential learning that benefits both students and the city, fostering innovation and collaboration for a stronger Ottawa.