November 7–8, 2026

uOEC

uOttawa Engineering Competition

In-person event @ University of Ottawa

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About

The University of Ottawa Engineering Competition (uOEC) challenges students to innovate, design, and communicate while solving real-world problems. Students compete in nine categories that mirror the Ontario Engineering Competition (OEC). Winning teams advance to OEC at Toronto Metropolitan University, January 22–25, 2027. At OEC, the top two performing teams in each category advance to the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC).

Why participate

Step through nine challenges

Showcase your skills, tackle real problems, and represent uOttawa Engineering.

  1. 01

    Build portfolio-ready projects and sharpen technical communication

  2. 02

    Receive feedback from industry professionals and faculty judges

  3. 03

    Connect with peers, mentors, and sponsors

  4. 04

    Boost your résumé and LinkedIn with recognized competition experience

  5. 05

    Compete for the chance to represent uOttawa at the provincial and national levels, all costs covered

Create unforgettable memories

Meet your team, build something that matters, and make a weekend you'll actually remember.

  • A team building a popsicle-stick structure at a table
  • Three students posing together in a campus atrium
  • Students working together in an engineering workshop
  • A student holding a case of energy drinks on campus
  • A team working at a table with a concepts whiteboard behind them
  • Four students huddled around a laptop in a campus stairwell
  • Three students on a staircase, one holding a tablet with a uOttawa logo
  • Three students posing indoors with a small dog
  • Two students working on laptops at a workshop bench
  • A volunteer giving a thumbs-up while grilling burgers outdoors
  • A large group of students posing together at the event

Categories

Saturday

  1. 01

    Saturday

    Senior Design

    Upper-year engineering students design, build, and present a working prototype to solve a complex engineering problem. Teams of up to 4.

  2. 02

    Saturday

    Parliamentary Debate

    Teams present a reasoned argument on a resolution revealed on the day, showing analytical thinking and clear communication under pressure. No prior debate experience needed. Teams of 2.

  3. 03

    Saturday

    Re-Engineering

    Teams improve an existing engineering concept by re-engineering it to enhance functionality or adapt it to a new use case. Teams of 2.

  4. 04

    Saturday

    Bio-Engineering

    Teams identify the issues outlined in the prompt and develop a bio-engineering design process to solve them. Teams of 2.

  5. 05

    Saturday

    Innovative Design

    Teams bring a project of their own and present a new design that addresses a real gap, covering technical feasibility, cost, and social and environmental impact. Teams of up to 6.

  6. 06

    Saturday

    Programming

    Teams develop and present software solutions judged on real-world application, clarity, and thorough design. Teams of up to 4.

Sunday

  1. 07

    Sunday

    Junior Design

    Junior engineering students design and build a prototype to solve a technical problem, with emphasis on functionality over theory. Open to students who have not completed 50% or more of the credits required for their program. Teams of up to 4.

  2. 08

    Sunday

    Consulting Engineering

    Teams act as consultants to a client, analyzing a complex real-world problem and recommending a strategy that balances technical, economic, and environmental constraints. Teams of up to 4.

  3. 09

    Sunday

    Engineering Communications

    Teams describe an engineering topic in terms the general public can understand. Teams of up to 2.

* You can compete in at most one challenge per day.

Where It All Began

Every hacker's got a story, the idea that kept them up, the team that became friends, the project they almost gave up on (but didn't). Here's theirs!

Participating in uOEC last year, I was able to challenge myself with new ways of thinking and problem solving in consulting. Our team was able to lock down 3rd place at OEC, showing Ontario what uOttawa can do.

Eric Hagen

Computer Engineering (co-op), 5th year

Sponsors

Thank you to the partners who make uOEC possible!

Coming soon

Made with in Ottawa, ON, Canada!

  • Krystian Smialkowski and Manya Kumar

    • Krystian Smialkowski

      VP Internal

    • Manya Kumar

      uOEC Commissioner

  • Gloria Laetitia Tetchouang Lonkou and Avery Bailey

    • Gloria Laetitia Tetchouang Lonkou

      Communications Director

    • Avery Bailey

      Communications Director

  • Chrispin Niyomukiza, Khaled Abdul-Baki, and Minh Khoi Vu

    • Chrispin Niyomukiza

      Competitions Director

    • Khaled Abdul-Baki

      Competitions Director

    • Minh Khoi Vu

      Competitions Assistant

  • Cecilia Jammoul and Samara Kaarim

    • Cecilia Jammoul

      Logistics Director

    • Samara Kaarim

      Logistics Director

  • Stella Steinberg and Hasan Kuba

    • Stella Steinberg

      External Relations

    • Hasan Kuba

      Finance Director

  • Maryam Belkebir and Penina Godeme

    • Maryam Belkebir

      Technical Director

    • Penina Godeme

      Technical Director

FAQ

You must be enrolled in an undergraduate engineering program at the University of Ottawa and be an ESS member. At least half of each team must be in full-time studies. Co-op and students not currently in class remain eligible if you are still considered an active student, or if less than one year has elapsed. Computer Science students are not eligible. Junior Design has one extra restriction below.

No. uOEC is open to undergraduate engineering students only.

The rulebook sets maximums only. Junior Design, Senior Design, Consulting Engineering, and Programming: 4. Innovative Design: 6. Engineering Communications, Re-Engineering, and Bio-Engineering: 2. Parliamentary Debate: exactly 2.

Register as an individual and note it on the form. We match teammates before the competition.

Register to compete

Yes, as long as they run on different days. Same-day categories run in parallel, so you cannot enter two on one day.

Plan for one full day per category. Most design phases run 3–5 hours; Senior Design can run up to 8, then presentations. A category on each day means the full weekend.

Register by October 7 to compete (and to be included in the provided lunch). Volunteer by October 3.

Register to compete

Business casual for presentations; comfortable clothing during design phases.

No. Junior Design is built for students who have not completed 50% or more of their program credits, and Parliamentary Debate rules are relaxed for newcomers. Judges assess reasoning and communication, not competition experience.

Yes. Every category is provided with what you need for the competition. Bring your own laptop.

One computer per team member. You may also bring textbooks, notes, background research, files on a USB, and a digital camera for design categories. Confirm file formats with organizers so they open on the presentation computers. Engineering Communications teams bring their own presentation materials, including diagrams, models, or prototypes. Parliamentary Debate allows writing pads and stopwatches, but not props.

Panels are made up of industry professionals and faculty.

Winning teams represent uOttawa at the Ontario Engineering Competition, with all costs covered. At OEC, the top two performing teams in each category advance to the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC).

Yes. Meals and snacks are provided on both days. Dietary restrictions collected at registration are accommodated.

Yes. Volunteers help with timekeeping, monitoring design phases, guiding teams, and supporting judges. Undergraduate engineering students can volunteer for one or both days.

Open the volunteer form

Email the uOEC team at competition@uottawaess.ca, or reach us on Instagram at @uottawa_essaeg.