UVic Engineering Prof Considered World's Best Graduate Teacher
Dr. Vijay K. Bhargava, a professor of
electrical and computer engineering at the University of Victoria, is the
winner of the 2002 IEEE Graduate Teaching Award. The Institute of Electrical
and Electronic Engineers is the world’s largest technical professional
society with over 333,000 members in 150 countries.
Only one such award is given every year, based on an international call for nominations. Bhargava received the award “For excellence in graduate teaching, curriculum development, and inspirational research guidance of graduate students in the area of wireless communications.” The award consists of a bronze medal, a certificate and a $2,000 US honorarium.
“I enjoy being with students and to be recognized for something that you like is very rewarding,” says Bhargava. “I give my students complete freedom and learn alongside them. I feel it is important that students facilitate their own way through research and I have learned a great deal from my past and present students.”
Bhargava joined UVic in 1984, and helped develop and nurture the graduate program, including regulations and curricula, of the newly established department of electrical and computer engineering. Prior to that he held regular and visiting appointments at the Indian Institute of Science, University of Waterloo, Concordia University, and the Ecole Polytecnique de Montréal. One of his former graduate students is Dr. Aaron Gulliver, who went on to work at Carleton University and the University of Canterbury and who now works as a professor of electrical engineering at UVic.
“Vijay’s lab is one of the most productive in the world in the area of wireless communications,” says Gulliver. “He is a great mentor and an inspiration to his students and provides an environment in his lab that nurtures their research interests. He genuinely cares about the welfare of not only his students, but every student who he comes in contact with.”
During his 28-year career, Bhargava has supervised 17 PhD theses and 35 Masters of Science theses. Seven of his graduate students are now faculty members at Canadian and US universities and several have gone on to become researchers and leaders in industry and government agencies.
Only one such award is given every year, based on an international call for nominations. Bhargava received the award “For excellence in graduate teaching, curriculum development, and inspirational research guidance of graduate students in the area of wireless communications.” The award consists of a bronze medal, a certificate and a $2,000 US honorarium.
“I enjoy being with students and to be recognized for something that you like is very rewarding,” says Bhargava. “I give my students complete freedom and learn alongside them. I feel it is important that students facilitate their own way through research and I have learned a great deal from my past and present students.”
Bhargava joined UVic in 1984, and helped develop and nurture the graduate program, including regulations and curricula, of the newly established department of electrical and computer engineering. Prior to that he held regular and visiting appointments at the Indian Institute of Science, University of Waterloo, Concordia University, and the Ecole Polytecnique de Montréal. One of his former graduate students is Dr. Aaron Gulliver, who went on to work at Carleton University and the University of Canterbury and who now works as a professor of electrical engineering at UVic.
“Vijay’s lab is one of the most productive in the world in the area of wireless communications,” says Gulliver. “He is a great mentor and an inspiration to his students and provides an environment in his lab that nurtures their research interests. He genuinely cares about the welfare of not only his students, but every student who he comes in contact with.”
During his 28-year career, Bhargava has supervised 17 PhD theses and 35 Masters of Science theses. Seven of his graduate students are now faculty members at Canadian and US universities and several have gone on to become researchers and leaders in industry and government agencies.
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