{"id":43301,"date":"2026-04-30T08:56:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/?post_type=cu_story&p=43301"},"modified":"2026-04-30T08:56:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T12:56:18","slug":"from-classroom-to-construction-site-an-engineering-practicum-journey","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/story\/from-classroom-to-construction-site-an-engineering-practicum-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"From Classroom to Construction Site: An Engineering Practicum Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n From Classroom to Construction Site: An Engineering Practicum Journey\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

When Parth Chauhan arrived in Ottawa to begin the Master of Engineering Practice (EP)<\/a> program at Carleton University, he was driven by a clear vision \u2013 to build the skills and experience needed to launch a career in Canada\u2019s engineering sector. What he didn\u2019t anticipate was how quickly that goal would connect him with one of the capital\u2019s most complex and high-profile infrastructure projects in its history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Parth is a Building Systems intern with PCL Construction<\/a>, working on Ottawa\u2019s Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. The role puts him directly inside an active construction environment, where engineering decisions have immediate, tangible impact \u2014 exactly the kind of real-world experience he had hoped to gain when he chose the EP program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Parth Chauhan, a Mechanical Engineering stream student in Carleton\u2019s Engineering Practice program, is contributing to Ottawa\u2019s Light Rail Transit (LRT) project as a Building Systems intern with PCL Construction.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Parth\u2019s path began in India, where he completed a bachelor\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering. From early on, he was drawn to understanding how machines function and, more broadly, how multiple systems come together within large-scale projects. When it came time to pursue graduate studies, Ottawa\u00a0emerged\u00a0as a natural next step, with\u00a0his sister\u00a0already living in the city.\u00a0But just as important were the professional opportunities\u00a0within the capital\u00a0\u2014 a strong engineering ecosystem with close ties to government, research institutions and industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As he explored his options, Carleton\u2019s EP program stood out for its focus on helping students transition into professional engineering roles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe EP team was very responsive and supportive from the beginning,\u201d says Parth. \u201cThat gave me confidence that I could make the transition academically and into the Canadian engineering workplace.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He enrolled in the\u00a0mechanical engineering stream<\/a>, which aligned with both his academic background and a growing interest in the construction industry.\u00a0As the program unfolded, Parth found that\u00a0its blend\u00a0of advanced engineering coursework, professional skill development and workplace-focused learning helped bridge the gap between what he had learned previously and what would be expected of him in real-world industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAcademically, it\u2019s been a really enriching experience,\u201d he says. \u201cThe courses helped prepare me for the work I\u2019m doing now.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through coursework in data analytics, Parth strengthened his ability to interpret and work with complex information, while his applied fluid mechanics course reinforced technical concepts directly relevant to building systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the program helped him build confidence \u2014 something that proved just as critical as technical knowledge once he entered a live construction environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning Persistence into Opportunity\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

EP\u2019s practicum pathway was introduced in Fall 2025 \u2014 giving students the opportunity to gain paid, full-time work in their engineering field while earning academic credit. Integrated directly into the program\u2019s curriculum, the pathway allows students to apply classroom learning in real workplace settings, build career-ready skills and expand their professional networks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parth began searching for a practicum opportunity shortly after arriving in Canada, but the process required patience. Nearly a year passed before he found the right fit.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were moments I doubted myself,\u201d he admits. \u201cBut persistence kept me going.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than casting a wide net, he narrowed his focus to construction-related roles he was genuinely interested in, refining his resum\u00e9, tailoring each cover letter and treating every application as part of the learning process.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parth\u2019s persistence paid off when he applied to PCL Construction. After completing a multi-stage hiring process that included a recorded interview and a formal interview, he was offered a practicum placement in the company\u2019s Building Systems department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tunney's<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now embedded on Ottawa\u2019s LRT project, Parth supports teams working on stations currently under construction. His work spans documentation, site visits and system testing \u2014 all focused on ensuring building systems\u00a0operate\u00a0safely and efficiently.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I enjoy most is being close to the project,\u201d he says. \u201cYou see things happening in real time and watching the site change every day is incredibly motivating.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His impact was quickly noticed, as PCL extended Parth\u2019s practicum by an additional four months, allowing him to take on greater responsibility and deepen his involvement in building systems coordination. As his team wraps up work on Ottawa\u2019s LRT project, he is preparing to contribute to the construction of what will become the tallest residential building in the capital \u2014 a new challenge that reflects both the scale of the projects he is involved in and the confidence placed in him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Toward What\u2019s Next\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The experience has helped clarify Parth\u2019s long-term direction. He hopes to continue working in the construction industry and contribute to a range of large-scale projects as his career develops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis work term has been a great starting point,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m doing work I enjoy and it\u2019s helping me build the foundation for the career I want.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning in Fall 2026, the EP\u2019s practicum pathway will transition to a co-op education option<\/a>, continuing to build on the same foundation of hands-on, industry-embedded learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For future EP students, his advice is practical and direct: be intentional, stay adaptable and\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0lose momentum when the process feels slow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStrong applications matter and preparation matters,\u201d he explains. \u201cAnd persistence matters most of all. If you keep pushing forward and focus on\u00a0opportunities\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0genuinely interested in, the right one will come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From his early studies in mechanical engineering in India to contributing on one of Ottawa\u2019s most ambitious infrastructure projects, Parth\u2019s journey reflects the kind of growth the EP program is designed to support \u2014 not just developing capable engineers, but helping students step confidently into professional roles. For Parth, that path is already taking shape, one project at a time. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Parth Chauhan arrived in Ottawa to begin the Master of Engineering Practice (EP) program at Carleton University, he was driven by a clear vision \u2013 to build the skills and experience needed to launch a career in Canada\u2019s engineering sector. What he didn\u2019t anticipate was how quickly that goal would connect him with one of the capital\u2019s most complex and high-profile infrastructure projects in its history.  Today, Parth is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":195,"featured_media":43304,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-43301","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/43301","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/195"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/43301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43313,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/43301\/revisions\/43313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=43301"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/engineering-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=43301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}