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CEIExSKAM, Torontoā€™s longest single graffiti installation, was one of the four initiatives that won Gold Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) (photo by Roberta Baker)

»ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Engineering, ā€œSpeaking Upā€ team recognized among worldā€™s best in communications

The »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ā€™s Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering Communications and the project team behind the ā€˜Speaking Upā€™ Staff & Faculty Engagement Survey have received a total of five from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

»ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Engineering, which won four awards, is among a cross section of public and private sector organizations from 12 countries recognized in the 2016 program.

ā€œThe Gold Quill Awards are unique in the industry because they recognize work that makes a significant contribution to business or organizational outcomes,ā€ said Monika Lancucki, ABC, chair of the IABC Awards Committee. ā€œUnlike many other awards programs, evaluators review each entry against IABCā€™s standard of excellence rather than against other entries. This encourages the pursuit of excellence rather than competition.ā€

Evaluators particularly look for innovative and unique entries where communicators demonstrate the impact their work had on business goals.

ā€œThe winning work in this yearā€™s program demonstrates these traits and truly reflects a world class standard. It is the pinnacle of achievement in communication,ā€ said Lancucki. ā€œItā€™s not just about the latest technology or the creativity of campaign materials, but the impact the work has on the business need.ā€

»ĘÉ«Ö±²„ Engineering received two Awards of Excellence for its Annual Report on Performance Indicators and Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE) Graffiti Wall Installation, and two Awards of Merit for its ā€œSay Yes to Engineeringā€ undergraduate student recruitment campaign for women and CEIE groundbreaking event.
 
ā€œCollaboration is at the heart of all of the winning entries,ā€ said Catherine Riddell, executive director of Engineering Strategic Communications. ā€œThese awards are shared with our colleagues in the Deanā€™s office, communications, recruitment, outreach, advancement and alumni relations. They speak to the culture of excellence that is alive and well among faculty and staff under the leadership of Dean Cristina Amon.ā€
 
In the past year, Engineering Strategic Communications has been recognized for excellence in communications in awards programs at the local, national and international level hosted by IABC (Ovation and Silver Leaf Awards) and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
 
»ĘÉ«Ö±²„ā€™s 2016 Gold Quill awards winning entries include:
 
CEIExSKAM Graffiti Wall Installation ā€” Award of Excellence
 
This bold, colourful and unconventional collaboration with street artist Jason Wing (also known as SKAM) is the longest single graffiti installation in Toronto. The imagery reflects the rich history and global impact of engineers from the »ĘÉ«Ö±²„. It also illustrates the Facultyā€™s vibrant student experience, pioneering research, transformative education and the game-changing commercialization that will take place within the CEIE.
 

 
2015 Annual Report of Performance Indicators ā€” Award of Excellence
 
The Facultyā€™s seventh annual report of performance indicators was described by IABC evaluators as ā€œa masterpiece of well thought through statisticsā€ that ā€œleaves no question unanswered.ā€
 

 
ā€œSay Yes to Engineeringā€ Women in Engineering Recruitment Campaign ā€” Award of Merit
 
This campaign, which ran from January through June 2014, featured a comprehensive multimedia strategy including creation of a unique , proactive media relations and targeted marketing collateral. The latest fall 2015 enrolment figures demonstrated its continuing effectiveness, as ā€” the highest percentage of any entering engineering class in Canada.
 

 
Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE) Groundbreaking Event ā€” Award of Merit
 
The , held June 24, 2015, united faculty members, students, staff, alumni, industry partners in celebration of this exciting capital project. The event channelled the spirit of enthusiasm surrounding the new building: a vibrant hub that will harnesses the boundless energy and creativity of our engineering community by fostering experiential learning and advancing opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration.
 


 
ā€˜Speaking Upā€™ Employee Experience Survey at the »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ ā€” Award of Merit
 
The ā€˜Speaking Upā€™ project, a joint initiative of the Offices of the Vice-President & Provost, and Vice-President, Human Resources & Equity was honoured in the category of Digital Communication for its online resource for employees and project team members about the survey: uoft.me/speakingup.
 
ā€œUnderstanding our employees experience is essential to maintaining their continued engagement,ā€ said Katy Francis, Director of Strategic Communications with the Division of Human Resources & Equity. ā€œOne way »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ gets at this information is through its Speaking Up faculty and staff engagement survey.ā€
 
While over the past three editions of the survey participation scores have consistently averaged 50 per cent, this time the survey sponsors wanted to see improvement in post-survey engagement. ā€œIn building this online resource we wanted to improve the way survey results and divisional action plans were shared. We know the resource was well received within the »ĘÉ«Ö±²„ community which made us happy,ā€ said Francis, ā€œReceiving external recognition with a Gold Quill Award is the icing on the cake.ā€

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