For a group of fourth-year civil engineering students at uOttawa, their capstone design project extended far beyond the classroom, reaching the shores of the Caribbean.
Led by Professor Ioan Nistor, the students travelled to Barbados for an immersive field experience that brought their final-year design project to life. The trip offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with real-world coastal infrastructure challenges, bridging theory and practice in a truly transformative way.
Understanding the challenges of coastal systems
As part of their Civil Engineering Design Project course (CVG 4907), the student team worked to redesign a pier at Needham’s Point in Bridgetown, Barbados, an area with significant coastal activity and infrastructure needs.
The project involved designing a pile-supported pier and a protective offshore breakwater. It required careful consideration of environmental conditions, structural performance and ease of construction.
During the field trip, students conducted on-site investigations, collected data and documented existing conditions to inform their design. “It was really interesting to see coastal infrastructure in person,” says Tyler McIsaac, one of the students. “Being able to observe these structures first-hand gave me a much better perspective than simply learning about them theoretically.”
These hands-on activities helped them better understand the complexities of coastal systems and the challenges of infrastructure development in dynamic marine environments.
An experiential learning opportunity in Barbados
“This type of immersive, hands-on experience is exactly what defines a high-quality engineering education today,” says Professor Mamadou Fall, chair of the uOttawa Department of Civil Engineering. “Our goal is to prepare students not only to understand complex systems but to engage with them in real-world contexts, where uncertainty, environment and innovation intersect.”
Throughout the visit, students did a range of technical activities, including site surveying, field measurements and drone-based observations. They also visited multiple coastal engineering projects across the island, gaining valuable insights into design approaches and construction practices in tropical environments.
As a capstone project, this experiential learning opportunity allowed the students to take everything they’d learned so far in their civil engineering degree and put it into practice. For a few days, they were immersed in the field of coastal engineering, responding to environmental challenges as they arose.
The experience enhanced their technical skills and gave them a deeper appreciation for the role of civil engineering in coastal resilience and sustainable infrastructure.
Collaborating with local industries
A key component of the experience was collaborating with Baird & Associates, one of the world’s most respected coastal engineering companies. Students got to visit the firm’s local office, interact with practising engineers, ask questions and learn from ongoing and completed projects.
This direct engagement with industry professionals provided invaluable exposure to civil engineering practice, strengthening the link between academic training and professional application.
A transformational student experience
Experiential learning opportunities like this are rare and impactful. By working in an international setting on a tangible engineering project, students not only enhanced their technical skills but also developed critical skills in teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.
“Looking back on our Barbados field trip, it was one of the most impactful experiences of my undergraduate degree,” says student Malak Zertoubi. “I truly believe every engineering student deserves to have at least one opportunity like this during their studies. Being able to connect theory with real-world applications is invaluable.”
It’s a feeling shared by Fall. “It speaks to a culture within our department where student success, innovation and experiential learning are deeply valued,” he says.
Such projects highlight how professors in the Department of Civil Engineering are committed to advancing teaching approaches and fostering meaningful student engagement.
Shaping the future of civil engineering education
This project was fully supported through Nistor’s research funding, reflecting a strong commitment to enriching students’ educational experience beyond traditional learning environments.
“What makes this initiative particularly remarkable is the level of dedication demonstrated by our faculty to create meaningful opportunities for students,” says Fall.
By bringing international fieldwork, industry collaboration and real-world problem-solving into the capstone design program, the uOttawa Faculty of Engineering is staying at the forefront of engineering education.
“We’re continuously evolving our programs to reflect the realities of modern engineering practice,” says Fall. “Experiences like this not only enhance learning but also position our graduates to become leaders capable of addressing complex infrastructure challenges at both local and global scales.”
