UBC Master of Engineering Leadership in Green Bio-Products

The Master of Engineering Leadership (MEL) in Green Bio-Products is an intensive 12-month degree program that will equip you with the technical and leadership skills required to contribute to the growing bio-economy.
UBC is a world leader in creating innovative value from forest biomass, and graduates of this program will take their place as technical leaders and sector specialists in this growing industry.

Get more information about this unique master’s degree program!

ALUMNI ENDORSEMENTS OF OUR MEL DEGREE

“One year really can change everything,”

“My master’s degree gives me more credibility, and I now have the mix of technical and soft skills that businesses are looking for when hiring consultants.”

“It was fantastic. When I was at Brock Solutions, I was primarily surrounded by other software developers. During the MEL, I learned so much from my colleagues as they brought diverse skills to the class and had different views on problems we were trying to solve.”

“I am more confident in the strengths I can offer organizations, and am able to speak to both the technical and business side of the equation. Being able to combine the two – to see both perspectives – really helps you come up with strong solutions to problems.”
“I couldn’t have made these connections anywhere else,” she says. “And I’m really looking forward to keeping in touch with my classmates and seeing where we all go next.”

PROPEL YOUR CAREER FORWARD

This unique master’s degree program will:
• help you acquire the skills to develop advanced technical processes and product ideas and take on senior project management roles;
• broaden your sector-relevant skills through a project-based curriculum that covers all stages of the industry value chain;
• provide a dynamic learning environment that includes working on collaborative projects with students and faculty;
• offer opportunities for you to collaborate with world-renowned faculty and industry experts; and
• help you advance your career by balancing technical learning with in-depth leadership courses on project management, business and communication.

Course Information

DEVELOP SOLUTIONS FOR A GROWING INDUSTRY

Organizations are seeking to create new products and consumers are demanding green alternatives. This has given rise to many opportunities to develop green, sustainable products and chemistries to replace oil-based products and fuels. These include pharmaceuticals, food packaging, clothing and building materials, as well as cutting-edge carbon nanofibers and biofuels.

DEEPEN YOUR TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS

The MEL in Green Bio-Products degree was developed in close collaboration with industry partners, who told us they need to hire leaders with cross-functional technical and business skills to develop innovative solutions, manage teams and direct projects.
The combination of technical expertise and leadership development makes the MEL in Green Bio-Products program unique and highly relevant in today’s business environment.

PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANCE YOUR CAREER

Our graduates will be in high demand locally, nationally and internationally, equipped to take on challenging roles in this rapidly evolving sector. They will be participating in developing advanced technical processes, product ideation and take on senior management roles.

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

The MEL in Green Bio-Products degree is a unique graduate program that empowers you to develop the sector-relevant cross-disciplinary technical skills in demand by top employers. There is no other program like this in North America.

The Green Bio-Products degree will differentiate you from your colleagues. You will:

• be immersed in a dynamic research environment at UBC;
• learn from world-renowned faculty from both the Faculty of Applied Science – including program director Mark Martinez – and the Faculty of Forestry, Canada’s largest forestry school;
• take courses with a cohort of like-minded peers – a group of engaged and ambitious professionals working in industries that include advanced materials manufacturing, software, urban infrastructure, naval architecture and marine engineering, and more;
• collaborate with industry partners who were instrumental in the design of the program; and
• develop professional networks with top researchers, industry partners and motivated graduate students.

DEEPEN YOUR TECHNICAL SKILLS

The project-based curriculum covers all stages of the industry value chain. Graduates will gain a comprehensive and integrated understanding of the chemistry and anatomy of the tree and its role as one of the most prolific forms of biomass.
Working in collaboration with faculty and industry experts at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Applied Science, you will graduate from the program with a strong knowledge of the chemistry and anatomy of the tree, lignocellulosic separation chemistry and the production pathways for biocomposites and fuels.

You will explore:

• the anatomy, physiology and composition of forest biomass
• lignocellulosic separation chemistry
• production pathways for biocomposites and fuels
• the spectrum of potential green products and fuels
• public policy as it relates to this sector

You will work in facilities at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry that are customized, state-of-the-art research labs designed for high-level world-class investigation. You’ll also work at the UBC Pulp and Paper Centre, which has conducted advanced forest products and biomaterials research for over 30 years.

DEVELOP AS A LEADER

Strong leadership and business skills are essential for career success. As we developed this program, our industry partners told us that they were looking for engineers who combined sector-specific technical skills with strong leadership skills.

While 60 per cent of your classes will focus on your technical specialization, the remaining 40 per cent are leadership development courses that will enhance your business, communication and people skills.

You will complete courses on project management, organizational leadership, analytics for applied sciences, business acumen for technical leaders, and sustainability and leadership. These classes will empower you to:

• effectively deliver multidisciplinary projects and operational results
• use data for technical and business decision-making
• understand the critical components of how business works
• take on increasingly complex and high-profile leadership positions within organizations

Course Information

SHARPEN YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS

Professional development workshops, delivered by industry leaders, are offered throughout the year-long program. These extra-curricular sessions cover topics such as:

• giving and receiving feedback
• learning how to deliver a successful pitch
• mastering meeting and email etiquette
• assessing and coaching others

The workshops also provide opportunities to network with professionals from a wide range of industries, UBC faculty and students in the MEL and MHLP programs.