Education

2 Winnipeg Free press - saturDaY, august 2, 2014 Inquireaboutour#MediaCoordinatorprogram. Tweetingforaliving?Yes,really. W I N N I P E G C A M P U S herzing.ca/winnipeg 204.775.8175 � By Holli Moncrieff For the Free Press T weet for a living! A new Herzing College program will teach you how. If you're already passionate about social media, spending hours on Facebook and Twitter, why not make it a career? Herzing President Kerry Swanson said that most companies are realizing the importance of trained social media professionals. "Businesses recognize that social media offer them a unique opportunity to connect with their customers. It increases customer engagement," he said. "Social media strategies need to be part of a company's overall marketing plan." Herzing's Media Co-ordinator Program was just introduced last month. It's a nine-month full-time program, with classes for five hours a day, four days a week, and a six-week internship. "This program is the first of its kind in Canada. It was developed by Herzing," said Swanson. "It focuses heavily on social media marketing for businesses. Students will receive training in video graphics management, copywriting, legal and PR issues associated with online marking, Search Engine Optimization, and pay-per-click advertising." In the past, many organizations utilized interns, junior staff, and volunteers to manage their social media pages, but Swanson said that is changing. "Companies are recognizing the need to have trained professionals handling their social media needs. Having someone unqualified represent your company online is not a good idea. Your social media sites are the voice of your company, and they need to be in line with your overall marketing goals," he explained. "Once something is out there on social media, it's hard to get back." While this course is designed for recent graduates or those interested in switching careers, it will also appeal to marketing professionals who would like to upgrade their training. "You can take this program while you're working part time," said Swanson. "I think this course will appeal to those who are creative and interested in social media." Creative types may also be interested in the Radio and Television Broadcasting Program. This nine-month course is an introduction to the broadcasting industry, with a strong focus on video and audio production. Students will learn interview skills, audio production, video production, and commercial copywriting. "The students will also learn how to write scripts for radio and TV, along with basic communication and web skills. They will have the chance to specialize during the program," Swanson said. "I recommend this course for anyone who wants to work in the media. It's a great way to get your foot in the door." The broadcasting classes run five days a week for five hours each day. This program was originally offered at the Academy of Broadcasting. It includes tours of local radio and television stations and a 100-hour work experience placement. "This is an entry-level course. Many of our students find jobs in the rural market and come back to the city once they've gained some experience," said Swanson. "Most of our classes have convenient scheduling so our students can still work part-time and fulfil their family obligations. All of our programs are one year long or less." Swanson said Herzing is highly committed to the success of its students. "We have a whole team that works with students on resumés, cover letters, and interview training. We put tons of resources into making sure our students get jobs," he said. "We have multiple people working in the career services department, so each person has an area (of study) they look after. Our career services department is also in charge of setting up internships, and are able to get a good fit for each student. We have a library with a librarian on-staff and tutoring available. We hire the tutors. The student doesn't pay for tutoring — we pay." Class sizes are generally small, between 25 and 30 students. All classes start this fall, but the college has several different intakes during the year, so most students can start their training at any time. All courses offered are full-time programs. Other programs available include Community Support Worker, Healthcare Aide, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Medical Office Assistant, Accounting and Payroll Administrator, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Assistant Online, Business Administration, Legal Assistant, and Computer Network Technology. Herzing College is located at 723 Portage Ave. Program information can be found on the Herzing website: www.herzing.ca/winnipeg or by phone at 204-775-8175. ■ Photo courtesy of Herzing said. "These are not video games. Students will create fun, interactive learning experiences." The certificate program includes eight courses which students can take at their own pace. There are no prerequisites, but participants will need a general knowledge of information technology. No game development experience is necessary. The program will begin with the Game-based Learning course in September. The university is also proud to be the first school in Canada to offer the Innovation Development Certificate. "This program is all about getting companies to be more innovative, but in a very science-based way," said Loeb. "Innovation is about bringing services and products to the market faster. Its main principles are 'fail fast and try fast.' There's quite a lot of research behind it." The Innovation Development Certificate teaches concrete skills that will turn innovation from a random and risky event into a reliable system. Innovation Development is an approach that is easily taught, mastered, and applied quickly across all business sectors. It was developed to encourage rapid innovation and to better manage the innovation process within organizations. The program teaches fundamental concepts and methods for creating, communicating, and commercializing meaningful and unique ideas. Real-world case studies featuring local and international businesses are explored in an environment designed to complement any discipline or organization. The Innovation Development Certificate includes four 36-hour part-time courses. The courses follow a version of a "flipped classroom" approach — students review online lectures and materials prior to class. The classroom work will take the form of labs, applications, and experience. "We think it's excellent that we're the first in Canada. No one else is offering this program in the country," Loeb said. "This course is suitable for anyone who's involved in business — anyone at any level who is developing something new for the marketplace." Only 24 students will be accepted into the program. Loeb said the participants will ideally complete the training within a year. "We've had lots of interest. A lot of people want to see how these principles can apply to their business," she said. "It's really important for our economy that we're on the leading edge." PACE continues to expand their online offerings. Their Management Certificate program can be taken online, and six additional online classes will be available this fall. These classes include Effective Oral Communication, Effective Written Communication, Essential Skills for Managers, and Project Management Fundamentals. "Our online courses still offer plenty of interaction with the instructors. We're very excited about this format, because it allows our programs to be available to anyone. We're increasing accessibility," said Loeb. "We work closely with the Faculty of Business and Economics, and all of our online courses were developed by the faculty." Loeb said that online learning is ideal for those who are more introverted and who may be hesitant to speak up in class. "Not everyone needs to be in the classroom. You can have a high level of instruction with both the instructor and other learners online," she said. "Online learning can be great for those who aren't as extroverted. Participation levels go up in an online class." Online learning can also be a great solution for busy adults who find it difficult to attend regularly- scheduled classes. "As adults, we have so many demands on our time," said Loeb. "Our online courses are also great for people who have a degree and who want to add some business experience." For more information on upcoming programs and courses, please see the PACE website at www.pace.uwinnipegcourses.ca. ■ » University of Winnipeg CONTINUEd FROM PAGE 1 HasHtaG: Career Herzing can make you a social media professional "We think it's excellent that we're the first in Canada. No one else is offering this program in the country. This course is suitable for anyone who's involved in business — anyone at any level who is developing something new for the marketplace."

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