Engineering Inclusivity by Design: Co-Designing an Inclusive Innovation Workshop

In North American universities, engineering faculties often exhibit unequal representation, with inclusivity in the curriculum hindered by aspects like elitism and technical social dualism. This project aimed to foster a more inclusive engineering culture by co-designing a workshop with students at McMaster University to appreciate diverse identities and incorporate equity principles into their work. The "Inclusive Innovation Design Challenge" workshop, attended by 55 students, introduced concepts of self-identity and positionality, followed by a human-centred design sprint based on equity-based co-design principles. Participants developed personas and brainstormed solutions to design challenges, enhancing awareness of the value of diverse perspectives. The outcome was overwhelmingly positive; feedback from a post-workshop survey indicated a shift in participants' perceptions towards their identities and the inclusion of diverse perspectives in design. Ongoing research will evaluate the workshop's impact on integrating these insights into coursework and enhancing the sense of belonging in engineering programs.