When BCIT civil engineering students sit down to design a safer intersection or test how a city bus navigates a tight turn, they aren’t working with simplified classroom simulations. They are using the same professional tools trusted by transportation engineers around the world, made possible through donor‑supported partnerships like BCIT’s longstanding collaboration with Transoft Solutions.
Thanks to Transoft’s generous software donation, students gain hands‑on experience with industry‑standard transportation engineering tools while they are still in the classroom. This access transforms how students learn, allowing them to solve real problems, test real designs, and build confidence long before they graduate.
“By donating our tools, we’re helping bridge the gap between theory and practice. Students aren’t just learning concepts; they are gaining experience with the same technology used by professionals in the field,” says Daniel Shihundu, CEO of Transoft Solutions. “That kind of exposure builds confidence, accelerates readiness, and opens doors that might otherwise take years to reach.”
In one class, students were challenged to rethink a busy local intersection. Using professional design tools, they explored how converting it into a roundabout could improve traffic flow and reduce collisions. As they tested different design scenarios, students saw firsthand how their decisions affected safety, accessibility, and efficiency, mirroring the responsibilities they will carry in professional engineering roles.
“Applied learning is at the heart of what we do at BCIT,” says Dr. Haesung Ahn, Instructor of Transportation Engineering. “Access to industry tools allows students to move beyond theory and develop the practical skills employers are looking for.”
For many students, this experience becomes a turning point. Working with the same tools used by municipalities and engineering firms helps bridge the gap between education and employment, enabling graduates to step into the workforce with a strong understanding of industry expectations and professional practice making them workforce ready before they graduate.
That connection to industry is intentional. “We don’t just want to provide software,” says Ronak Joshi, Regional Account Manager of Transoft Solutions. “We want students to understand how it is used in the real world and to know that industry professionals are there to support them.”
For more than a decade, Transoft team members have visited BCIT classrooms to share their expertise and guide students through real-world challenges. Through classroom engagement, demonstrations, and applied learning sessions, students see how engineering decisions shape the safety and functionality of real communities.
Transoft’s support extends beyond classroom access. Through on-demand training resources, students can continue building their skills independently, allowing them to deepen their understanding of industry tools such as AutoTURN for vehicle swept-path analysis, TORUS for roundabout planning, and GuideSIGN for traffic sign visualization. These additional learning opportunities help ensure students have the resources they need to succeed both during their studies and after graduation.
Together, donor generosity, industry partnership, and BCIT’s applied learning model are ensuring students graduate not only with credentials, but with the skills, confidence, and experience to make an immediate impact.