Education | December 2017

Visionaries never stop learning. Advance your career with Extended Education.

A SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS EDU CAT I ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017

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UWinnipeg students have the opportunity to tackle “real-world” research projects that make an impact in the community. Photo by Cory Aronec Photography

THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG

EDUCATION WITH IMPACT

By Diane Poulin for the Free Press Students come to The University of Winnipeg to follow their passions. Whether they pursue degrees in science, the arts, kinesiology, business or teacher education, they benefit from small class sizes where professors know their names. They also have the opportunity to tackle “real-world” research projects that make an impact in the community. As a result, UWinnipeg graduates emerge well prepared to make a positive difference on the world around them.

This past summer, science student Stefanie Sheard fell in love with trees. In partnership with the City of Winnipeg, a team of UWinnipeg students was hired to do field research about Dutch elm disease. Stefanie worked in the Wolseley neighbourhood where she discovered “people are passionate about our elm trees — this research matters.” Her team was tasked with finding elms that are “super shedders,” that is: crawling with diseased beetles. Earlier identification and removal of these trees improves the rate at which the spread of Dutch elm disease can be slowed. “It is great to have students so involved,” said Sheard. “I really felt I was making a difference.” Dean Dias has had a busy autumn flying off to visit customers in Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Algeria, Morocco, the United Kingdom, and Italy. As a director with the Canadian International Grains Institute, he builds relationships with people from around the globe to ensure Canadian wheat gets to market. “People may not realize that when it comes to agriculture, Winnipeg is the hub. We are feeding the

world,” said Dias, who graduated from UWinnipeg with a Bachelor in Business Administration just a few years after moving here from Mumbai, India. He credits UWinnipeg with fostering teamwork, an essential skill in business. “My classes at UWinnipeg were very interactive and project-based with

balloon at FortWhyte Alive again this spring. Jeremy Leathers is poised to graduate with a double-major in biology and geography and is part of the UW Cloud Punchers team. “It is neat to watch this gigantic balloon filling up with helium, and then it just shoots upward when you let it go,” he said. “It’s equipped with

It is great to have students so involved. I really felt I was making a difference.”

simulations. You realize that not everyone thinks the same, and that is critical to understanding how to work with others. I learned a lot of people-management skills at UWinnipeg.” Flying balloons is fun, but it is also serious research that helps gather important data on barometric pressure, air temperature, acceleration, angular rotation and the Earth’s magnetic field. A UWinnipeg team of geography and environmental studies students will launch a high-altitude weather

a GoPro camera and that brought back really interesting video and pictures, including images of the curvature of the earth.” The UWinnipeg balloon is part of an international initiative called the Global Space Balloon Challenge and a national project called the Canada-Wide High Altitude Balloon Experiment, with all of the teams launching balloons during the third week of April. Discover all of the programs that deliver education with impact at uwinnipeg.ca ❚

Above left: In autumn 2017, Dean Dias visits a bakery in Bogota, Columbia, which uses Canadian wheat. Above right: A UWinnipeg weather balloon launch in spring 2016. Above: Stefanie Sheard and Benoit Morham inspect elm trees in summer 2017. Supplied photos

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The Kenanow learning model is based on Elder teachings which blend traditional and academic knowledge in practice. Submitted photos

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE NORTH

UNIQUE APPROACH PAYING OFF FOR UCN By Jim Timlick for the Free Press It’s no secret many northern Manitoba communities have been struggling to bring in sufficient numbers of qualified teachers. In fact, a recent report stated northern Manitoba First Nations had a shortage of at least 36 teachers to start the current school year.

One northern-based post-secondary institution is taking an innovative approach to try and address the issue. University College of the North’s Kenanow Faculty of Education offers land- or place-based learning in addition to conventional classroom experiences as part of its bachelor of education program. The aim, says Dean of Education David Williamson, is to incorporate traditional Indigenous values and teachings as part of the teacher education process and help those teachers become culturally proficient in Indigenous perspectives and values. Ultimately, the hope is this approach will boost the number of local teachers working in northern communities and reduce the reliance on southern transplants who often leave after just a few years. The Kenanow learning model is based on Elder teachings which blend traditional and academic knowledge in practice. Kenanow is the Ininiw or Cree word for “all of us.” While there remains much work to do, UCN officials have been encouraged by the results of the program to date. Since 2010, more than 150 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program have graduated from the school’s on-campus and community-based programs. Of those students, more than 90 per cent are teaching to this day in northern or Indigenous communities. This year, more than 130 new education students started programs on the school’s main campuses in The Pas and Thompson as well as at community-based sites in Cross Lake, Norway House, Split Lake and Grand Rapids. “We knew there was a need and we just had to figure out the best way to meet that need. This tells me that we’re on the right track,” Williamson says, adding it’s not uncommon for UCN students to be offered teaching positions during their final practicum.

Williamson says the program’s land-based approach to education is in keeping with the country’s commitment to implement culturally relevant and academically recognized practices following the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. As part of this approach, education students spent part of the school year learning at traditional territorial sites in all the core subjects including language arts, science and math. For example, Mile 20, the traditional cultural camp of the Ininiw people of the Nisachawaysik Cree Nation, will often serve as a classroom for the students. These community-based locations are chosen in consultation with partner groups including local tribal councils, healing centres and UCN’s Elders Council, which includes representatives from 11 northern communities. “One of our challenges has been working with students who, for a variety of reasons, haven’t had that cultural connection in the past. It’s getting them to consider the importance of that connection to the land… and culture,” Williamson says. “Once they do, they often go through a transformation and rediscovery of identity.” It’s not only UCN students who have benefitted from this culturally-infused approach, he adds, it’s also the students they go on to teach. “Before, you had a revolving door of teachers from the south and… turnover rates of up to half the staff (at a school) in a given year,” Williamson says. “What we are seeing now is our students becoming teachers, going back and having a connection with their community but also having an academic toolbox to use with that cultural connection.” Interestingly, it’s not only Indigenous people and communities who have benefitted. Nearly 30 per cent of UCN’s student population is non-Indigenous,

with some international students coming from as far away as Africa and India. “They’re quite interested in the place-based model. They may not be Indigenous in the Canadian sense, but they often have the same perspective… and a connection to the land and community,” Williamson says. “The institution is not the only place to learn. We’re finding it’s a model that’s almost universally accessible.” UCN was established as a degree-granting institution in 2004. Prior to that, it was known as Keewatin Community College for more than two decades, during which time it served as an academic and trades training institution for northern communities. Its two main campuses remain in The Pas and Thompson, but it now also offers 12 satellite learning centres, including the programs in Cross Lake, Norway house, Oxford House, Easterville, St. Theresa Point and Peguis. The school has begun receiving considerable attention of late because of its efforts to provide relevant educational opportunities to remote communities. It has collaborated with both the University of Manitoba and Brandon University on research projects that address issues facing Indigenous students. It’s also made several presentations to the Canadian Society for the Study of Education, the largest organization of professors, students and researchers in education in the country. ❚

Assiniboine Discover the experience At Assiniboine, find flexible, relevant and affordable education to fit you. Make connections that last a lifetime, spend more time away from the textbooks and learn by doing every step of the way. assiniboine.net

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CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

The centre, which fills 6,500 square-feet of space on the fourth floor of CMU’s north campus building on Shaftesbury Boulevard, will be an academic hub for partnering organizations to work with each other and students to develop policy, design, and enterprise innovations in the hopes of creating a more resilient economy that improves social equity and environmental protection. In short, says the centre’s director James Magnus-Johnston, the university hopes to provide a space for social entrepreneurs including non-profits and local businesses to mingle with the school’s brightest young minds to work on ways of creating a more sustainable future. “In a nutshell it’s a co-working space for social entrepreneurs,” explains Magnus-Johnston, who also teaches social entrepreneurship and political studies at CMU. “In practice it will be a co-working lab for folks who are working at trying to solve social and ecological challenges. “Sometimes I refer to the centre as a lab because it’s a place where we can play with ideas — some will fail and some will succeed — but we’ll always be attempting to build resilience in the process.” The centre will look more like an office than a classroom, says Magnus- Johnston, and will have space for a revolving base of between 25 to 30 social entrepreneurs to take up residency while they work with students on real- world projects. And those students will come from any and all of the school’s classes and disciplines. “We need folks who are broadminded enough to identify the kinds of problems that need to be worked on and to be able to think them through in a really rigorous way,” says Magnus-Johnston. The centre’s interface model is based on the school’s long-standing practicum program, explains Jonathan Dueck, CMU’s Vice-President Academic and Academic Dean, and will at times see whole classes working on projects, sometimes groups of students, and at other times just individual students. “It’s based on the residents having an interest in students being involved and the students and faculties meeting those interests,” says Dueck, who is also an associate professor of ethnomusicology at the school. “It’s a very social model for connecting the two groups.” With an open concept, the centre will have living walls with greenery growing indoors and lots of natural light, and there will also be a variety of work spaces that include sit/stand desks and soft seating areas. It’s an environment designed from the ground up to help incubate ideas, says Magnus-Johnston. “We tried to foster a range of different interaction styles, for instance in the kitchen we’re looking at particular kinds of booths that keep the sound to a minimum but which enable private, focused meetings to take place as well,” he says. “We wanted to make it private enough that it’s not super exposed for the folks who are working in there, but then also open enough that it fosters some kind of meaningful interaction between everyone taking up residence there.” As well as the indoor space offered in the university’s campus, the Centre for Resilience will also utilize an acre of land on CMU’s grounds where greenhouses and a compost facility are planned, as well as space for any large projects students and social entrepreneurs come up with. “Having the space on the grounds is a real plus because you can actually do things outside, you can test things, or you can build installations that the public can interact with,” explains Dueck. “So if you wanted to try new housing that is more sustainable, for instance, you can actually build something out there and have people come in and try it out.” With construction of the Centre for Resilience nearing completion Magnus-Johnston is hard at work creating partnerships in the community, and social entrepreneurs from both the business and non- profit sectors interested in taking up residency can connect with him at jmagnus-johnston@cmu.ca. “Let’s go for coffee, let’s have a chat about it and see if there’s a good fit for these students,” he says. Prospective students can find more information about the centre and CMU’s courses at cmu.ca. ❚ In a nutshell it’s a co-working space for social entrepreneurs. In practice it will be a co-working lab for folks who are working at trying to solve social and ecological challenges.” The Canadian Mennonite University has a lofty goal for their new Centre for Resilience — when the $1.7-million addition to the school opens next spring, they’re hoping the ideas it spurs help change the world. IDEA INCUBATOR TAKES ROOT

Renderings of Canadian Mennonite University’s Centre for Resilience. Courtesy Ager Little Architects

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Dr. Gary Hepburn, PhD — Dean, Division of Extended Education Supplied photos

UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA’S DIVISION OF EXTENDED EDUCATION

AN INNOVATION IN ADULT LEARNING Pushing relevance to a whole new level

By Dr. Gary Hepburn, PhD — Dean, Division of Extended Education

S omething new has been happening in the University of Manitoba’s Division of Extended Education that is leading to the exciting redevelopment of programs designed to fit the unique needs of industry and organizations — on both a local and national level. In response to feedback from industry stakeholders for more relevant, applied learning in the field of teaching and training adults, we are launching our newly developed Certificate in Program Development for Adult Learners, and it is no ordinary program. It is the first example of a new generation of programming

that will position the University of Manitoba as an innovator in professional studies programming. Over the past year, the program development team in Extended Education has been doing some groundbreaking work. One of our popular programs, the Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education, was due for an update and we decided to set our sights high. We wanted to produce the best adult learning program in Canada. Not only did we update content, we have also completely revolutionized the concept of applied learning. Taking adult-learning principles into account, we knew that it would be important to do two things that

draw a solid connection to the types of work our students would be doing in their own workplaces. First, we added an applied project that relates to the professional focus for each student. All of the core program modules contribute directly to the completion of part of the applied project. Second, we provide students with choices within program modules so they can choose readings and learning resources that relate to their field. The three broad fields we anticipated in the design of the program are workplace performance development, community development, and higher education. The

program core, with its strong emphasis on creating an applied learning experience, is complemented by a wide selection of elective courses to complete the program requirements. We are very excited to be offering this new program starting in January 2018. Although we believe we have designed a program that is second to none, we are also committed to ongoing improvement. This new program will be continually evaluated to make it even better because we truly believe innovators never stop learning. Learn more about our Certificate in Program Development for Adult Learners at umextended.ca/PDAL. ❚

Innovators never stop learning.

And they’re enrolling in Canada’s most innovative adult learning program.

Put innovation into practice with the all new Certificate in Program Development for Adult Learners (PDAL).

This first-of-its-kind program replaces our Certificate in Continuing and Adult Education and features:

Applied learning – Every core course includes a project that can be applied to real world professional challenges and opportunities. Broad application – Courses are relevant to the workplace, community development and higher education. Flexible delivery – Modular online course delivery allows students to determine their own path to program completion.

Bring innovation to your working world at umextended.ca/PDAL

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Clockwise from top: RRC research manager Joel Lamoureux at an industry event showcasing how miso can be made from spent grain, a beer-brewing byproduct; Artist’s rendering of RRC’s new Innovation Centre in the Exchange District.; RRC students at work in the College’s new ACE Project Space. SUBMITTED PHOTOS

RED RIVER COLLEGE

RRC EXCHANGE DISTRICT CAMPUS IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

By Jim Timlick for the Free Press

example of that foresight. Located in the former Union Bank Tower, the city’s first skyscraper, PGI is home to the college’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, as well as its Culinary Research & Innovation program. More than 600 students have graduated from the School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts since it relocated from RRC’s Notre Dame Campus during the 2012-13 academic year, with many of them now working at or running their own restaurants in the Exchange. “Moving the culinary program downtown allowed us to do two things. One was to expand the program. It was really able to grow because of moving into the Paterson building,” Vogt says. “It also allowed us to add the research component… and we now work closely with many Manitoba food companies.” The Culinary Research & Innovation program is in its second year of operation and has already partnered with over 30 businesses and organizations both big and small on nearly two dozen projects. It received $2.3 million in funding through a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant to develop collaborative research projects between the college and industry. To date, the program has collaborated on everything from turning spent grain into miso (a traditional Japanese seasoning) with two local craft breweries to helping a handful of homegrown food companies develop new flavours and product concepts. Its industry partners include Piccola Cucina, a local company that creates traditional Italian cuisine with a modern twist, MSPrebiotics in Carberry, Farmery and Torque breweries, the Barley Council of Canada and the University of Manitoba’s Food Sciences department. Joel Lamoureux, research manager of the program, says the number of groups wanting to work with the college

continues to grow as the program’s profile increases. Part of the attraction for companies to work with the college, he says, is that the school’s staff and students can help speed up the research and development process. “It gives (companies) an opportunity to solve challenges (for which) they may not have access to the resources they need to do it on their own,” he says. “We also have the creativity. It’s really a culinary approach that helps streamline and provide on-trend and unique ideas.” RRC’s influence in the Exchange is only likely to grow. It recently opened the ACE Project Space on McDermot Avenue, where IT students work with entrepreneurs- in-residence on new technologies. It’s also expressed interest in the former Public Safety Building site as part of efforts to boost affordable housing stock for students in the Exchange. The college is also set to begin work later this year on its new Innovation Centre. The 100,000-square-foot space adjacent to the Roblin Centre is set to open in 2019, and is expected to draw an additional 1,200 students into the Exchange each day. It will offer those students an opportunity to work directly with established companies and startups as part of a new project-based curriculum. “It will be very good for students to learn the kind of real life problems that are current in industry,” Vogt says. “It’s also good for our partnerships with business because if they get a solution or idea out of that, they take it with them. We never claim the intellectual property on it.” While all of college’s brick-and-mortar projects have contributed a great deal to the local landscape, Vogt says RRC staff remain proudest of what the school has contributed to the local talent pool. “A lot of Winnipeg startups, some of our new restaurants and a whole lot of other endeavours have really been driven by Red River College graduates.” ❚

When Red River College opened its downtown campus on Princess Avenue 15 years ago, no one knew at the time what kind of impact it might have on the surrounding Exchange District. Today, it’s fair to say the college has been one of the engines that has driven the recent economic and architectural revitalization of one of Winnipeg’s most historically significant neighbourhoods. The college draws an estimated 5,000 students and staff into the Exchange daily, which in turn has generated a huge amount of business activity. It’s also earned widespread praise for incorporating heritage elements into projects like the Roblin Centre — home to the school’s business, creative arts and IT programs — and the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute (PGI). “It was a decision that was a little bit ahead of its time,” RRC president Paul Vogt says of the college’s move into the Exchange. “I think it was a good hunch (on the college’s part). This was before (urban studies theorist) Richard Florida came out talking about how if you really want to create an innovative area, it should be in the downtown where there’s a lot of diversity and fairly low-cost entry into business. I really credit my predecessors for having that foresight.” The school’s Paterson GlobalFoods Institute is another

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Brandon University offers some of the most affordable tuition rates in the country and small class sizes that allow you to truly connect with people on campus. Submitted photo

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BRANDON UNIVERSITY

STUDENTS FINDING THE RIGHT FIT AT BU

Don’t worry, we understand. Choosing the next step in your education is an exciting, and stressful, decision, and today there are more choices than ever. By now you’ve probably looked into several universities or colleges offering a wide range of courses and the promise of setting yourself on a long and rewarding career path. The truth is, there are many great options out there, but only one you, and that’s why it’s so important to make the right choice for you. Right now, more and more students like you are finding that fit at Brandon University. We offer outstanding educational programs, some of the most affordable tuition rates in Canada and small class sizes that allow you to really connect with everyone else on campus. “You really get to know the professors, the staff and the other students,” says BU student Trevor McIntyre. “That familiarity makes you feel comfortable and helps you to get the most out of your courses.” Everything we do is done with you as our top priority. You’ll join 3,500 fellow students, making BU large enough to offer you degrees from the faculties of Arts, Education, Health Studies and Science as well the School of Music, while still having a compact feel. Our professors take you beyond the classroom to share with you some of their cutting-edge research. You’ll attend engaging lectures, combined with valuable hands-on experience. Many BU alumni go on to prestigious graduate programs, including our growing list of master’s degrees in Rural Development, Education, Psychiatric Nursing, Music and Science (Environmental and Life Studies). With so many choices open to you, we’ll help you out every step along the way, starting before you even arrive. As a new student, you’ll take part in advisory sessions, helping you plan which courses will help lead you to your goals. Student mentors and support from faculty and staff are available all through your time here to help you do your best at whatever you choose.

“Some people come to us and know exactly what they want to study, but most are still looking for the right fit,” says Courtney Adams, our Acting Director of Recruitment and Retention. “By talking to students about their interests we can help them decide between options they’re already considering or even suggest some ideas they haven’t thought of yet.” Brandon is a safe, friendly city of 50,000 people, and BU offers big-school amenities at our convenient, walkable campus. Our students enjoy the comforts of home in our residence and dining facilities, on-campus bookstore, hair salon, licensed coffee shop, state-of-the art fitness and recreation centre and the Indigenous Peoples’ Centre Like our students, BU is looking forward to a bright future, building on the strengths of our traditions, while embracing the challenges of a changing world.

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“It’s an exciting time to be at BU,” says Adams. “You can see it in our faculty and in our students as well. There’s a willingness to be innovative and be creative.” Learn more about your exciting future at brandonu.ca. ❚ ‘‘ By talking to students about their interests we can help them decide between options they’re already considering or even suggest some ideas they haven’t thought of yet.”

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Professional programs at Université de Saint-Boniface are well-known for producing excellent grads who are highly sought-after potential employees. Submitted photo

UNIVERSITÉ DE SAINT-BONIFACE

CLOSE COMMUNITY TIES By Kathryne Cardwell for the Free Press

Université de Saint-Boniface offers some of the province’s best academic, professional and technical education. “Université de Saint-Boniface is an option for everyone,” says Stéfan Delaquis, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professional Studies. “We pride ourselves on a personalized approach to education.” Along with high-quality programs, Saint-Boniface offers competent, devoted instructors and close student- faculty relations. As Delaquis puts it, “not only are you going to study here — we’re going to support you while you do.” Since all courses are conducted in French, the Université allows students to continue and strengthen their language skills and gain assets for the workforce — and bilingualism is in high demand in Manitoba. It’s a common misunderstanding that potential students must pass a test in French proficiency to attend Saint- Boniface, says Delaquis. Students’ French skills are evaluated only to determine in which classes they should be placed. Instruction in French is not the only benefit. Saint- Boniface’s professional programs are well-known for producing excellent graduates who are highly sought-after potential employees. “Our students are hired before they even get their diplomas, most of the time,” says Florette Giasson, Director of the School of Social Work and Field Co-ordinator. Affiliated with the University of Manitoba, Saint-Boniface’s School of Social Work was created in 2007 to address a crucial shortage in French-speaking social workers in Manitoba. Now celebrating its 10th year, the social work program has much to be proud of. The school’s four-year undergraduate program contains three methodologies — individual family, group and intervention.

The school is unique for its close community ties, allowing students the chance to become involved while they study. “Our students are involved in a lot of grassroots programs,” says Giasson, such as starting daycares for students with children and reviewing social policies on human rights. The school also offers some unique courses such as a mandatory mental health course. Other areas in need of French speakers are the province’s French schools and French immersion schools, making graduates from Saint-Boniface’s Faculty of Education highly attractive. The Bachelor of Education degree is a two-year program for university graduates. The second year consists of a practicum running from September until the end of March. “Students get the start of year at school, meetings with parents, report cards, staff meetings and committees,” says Claudine Lupien, Associate Dean and professor in the Faculty of Education. “When they start teaching, they already have this experience.” The faculty also offers master’s and post-baccalaureate degrees, with a large online presence — some students can complete studies fully online. Its master’s program offers four education streams: school administration, counselling, resource teaching and language, literacy and curriculum. Students benefit from close relationships with teaching staff, who personally place students into practicums and evaluate them regularly. One field that is particularly booming right now is the field of translation, both from French to English and English to French. Saint-Boniface offers bachelor’s degrees and certificates in translation and their program attracts students from all regions of Canada. “We have very strong courses. They are innovative. They place students in authentic learning situations,” says Carmen Roberge, Director of the School of Translation. “Students and professors are equally dedicated.” Career opportunities include working in the civil service,

for translation companies or independently as a freelancer. “There’s a lot of work for people with translation skills, because of growing communication and internet influence,” says Roberge. Saint-Boniface’s School of Business Administration offers excellent undergraduate programs in five areas of study: marketing, human resources, accounting, finance and economics, says Faïçal Zellama, Director of Business Administration.

The school is affiliated with the University of Manitoba’s I.H. Asper School of Business, so students can take courses at the Asper School as well. Saint-Boniface benefits from a consultative partnership with the local business community, which helps ensure courses contain content useful for students who plan to work in these fields. And they do. Every year, 80 per cent of their business graduates remain in Manitoba, and 20 per cent pursue additional studies such as master’s degrees. “We have a very good collaboration with our community,” says Zellama. For more information, visit ustboniface.ca ❚ ‘‘ Our students are hired before they even get their diplomas, most of the time.”

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH CONSTRUCTION SITE SUPERVISOR PROGRAM

Looking to build on your career in the construction industry by gaining the skills and expertise to move into a supervisory or managerial role? Get in on the ground floor by enrolling in Red River College’s new Construction Site Supervisor program, developed to help address the growing demand for skilled tradespeople with supervisory experience. The new certificate program teaches participants how to effectively manage others, while developing the communication, interpersonal and leadership skills required to organize teams and oversee projects to completion. Students will also explore project management, construction law, health and safety, and basic business skills, leaving them well positioned to fill the thousands of new industry openings predicted over the next decade. “The construction industry is growing,

and with it, the number of career options available,” says Bruce Bishop, Industry and Transportation Manager at RRC. “The winter months are a particularly great time to gain additional training and prepare yourself for the busy construction season ahead.” The new program begins in January 2018, and consists of seven part-time courses that could take less than two years to complete. Career opportunities include roles as construction supervisors, superintendents, lead forepersons and project managers — in institutional and commercial construction, as well as the heavy industrial and engineering sectors. “Construction is a lifelong career, and it’s always different,” says Bishop. “Gaining these leadership skills will allow you to move up and around in your career. You’ll literally be a part of building and shaping your communities.” To learn more, visit rrc.ca/css. ❚

Build a Career in Construction EXPLORE OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION SITE SUPERVISOR PROGRAM Develop the communication, interpersonal and leadership skills to organize teams and supervise projects to completion.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 204.694.1789 | CDE@RRC.CA | RRC.CA/CSS

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UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

DISCOVERING PASSION AND PURPOSE THROUGH OPPORTUNITY

From a 12th-floor apartment keeping any sort of plant life alive is a challenge. So it may seem surprising Kwok Chu Tom Li left his Hong Kong high-rise to study all things green at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. But his decision is a prime example of how many students discover their passion, and career path, because of the options and opportunities available at the U of M. When Li learned he could volunteer in the university’s greenhouses — just one of over 350 campus activities — he unearthed a passion for horticulture. That led him to join a community service-learning program planting vegetables in the Rainbow

Community Gardens on campus. The Gardens support immigrant families from Winnipeg’s Central Park area, providing a place to grow food, share culinary traditions and build social networks. “Being able to share the knowledge and skills I learned in university makes my studies even more rewarding,” says Li. “It inspired me to get more involved in the community. When I graduate, I want to apply my full education to help solve the world’s food and hunger problems, especially in developing countries.” That’s a goal Noah Wilson also shares. The Cree student from Peguis First Nation chose the U of M because of its strong, supportive Indigenous community. He found a home-away-from-home at Migizii Agamik-Bald Eagle Lodge and took full advantage of experiences outside the classroom to find his voice, including being co-president of the U

of M’s Aboriginal Students Association. The sense of belonging and community he feels on campus inspired him to return the favour. “By investing in the student groups, I gained a passion and a purpose,” he says. “It directed me towards environmental law and Indigenous law. I want to help protect the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and the environment, because both need to be preserved for the sake of future generations.” The U of M’s law program is just one of over 100 accredited and internationally-recognized programs on offer. By combining traditional classroom learning with any of the 100 service-learning, internship, paid co-op, or exchange programs available, students like Li and Wilson are able to find their passion and apply their knowledge and expertise in their future careers

no matter what field they choose. Learn more at UMconnect.ca ❚

I’M CARVING MY OWN PATH. MY CURIOSITY AND PASSION WILL HELP ME CARE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. I am driven. I am looking beyond how the human body functions to find out why . By connecting with my professors, I am also gaining hands-on lab experience and getting involved in leadership positions. Every chance to learn brings me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a pediatrician. Nothing can hold me back. I am a trailblazer. That’s why I study at the University of Manitoba, where students have options and opportunities. It’s a place where students are challenged to grow, encouraged to create and dared to excel. Harley Bray Faculty of Science w y

Discover where your path could take you at: UMConnect.ca

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Robertson College offers more than 20 online and in-class programs, focusing on health care, business and information technology. Submitted photos

ROBERTSON COLLEGE

FOCUSED ON YOUR CAREER By Geoff Kirbyson for the Free Press

Robertson College is doing more than its fair share to keep Manitoba’s unemployment rate among the lowest in Canada. The Winnipeg-based private vocational college offers more than 20 online and in-class programs, focusing on health care, business and information technology. About 1,200 students attend classes at its two Winnipeg campuses — one on Notre Dame Avenue and the other on Main Street — and hundreds are taking online courses. And with 90 per cent of them entering the workforce in their chosen fields shortly after graduating, Robertson contributed to Manitoba’s unemployment rate dropping 0.3 per cent in October to 5.2 per cent, second only to British Columbia’s 4.9 per cent. Online enrolment has been on the rise since it revamped and upgraded the programs and the systems to deliver them three years ago. In 2013 there were just 100 online students. “The model is a lot different,” said Judy Borus, Robertson’s director of human resources. “People need to put in 20 hours a week to complete an online course and you have to hit goals and complete assignments. Previously, people took as long as they wanted to complete it. If you tell people to take their time, they’ll take their time.” Robertson’s programs are relatively short term, ranging from five to nine months, with the exception of massage therapy, which runs for two years. (The college also operates in Alberta with a pair of campuses in Calgary and a new campus in Edmonton. Combined, they serve more than 1,050 students.) Robertson serves as a pipeline to its industries of choice as nine out of every 10 of its students get jobs in their areas

of study. And if a former student would like to pursue a different employment path down the road, no problem. Robertson’s career services are offered for life. “Some people love their careers but after 10 years, they want a change. We’ll help them find that next career. Sometimes that means taking another program, updating their resumé and learning interview skills so they can tap into the jobs that are available,” she said. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority recruits a significant number of health-care aides to work at most of the hospitals around town. There are numerous landing spots for business students, including law firms such as Taylor McCaffrey and Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, as well as retailer the North West Company. Pharmacy

payroll are particularly well-equipped for the real world, she said. “For a smaller organization, someone who can come in and play a dual role with accounts payable and receivable and have an understanding of how payroll works have a broader skill set than pure accounting,” she said. Robertson boasts a significant number of mature students, including newcomers to Canada, who enrol to get a diploma in their area of expertise. “If you were a financial worker back home you may not be able to get the same work when you land here. Winnipeg has one of the highest populations (of immigrants) from the Philippines and we’ll have many people coming with nursing or other diplomas from back home. They’ll take a health-care aide challenge and we get them working quickly,” she said. The competition for Robertson ranges from the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg to Red River College and several career colleges. Its career services team goes to various employment fairs throughout the year, including at high schools and a variety of corporations. Borus said it has carved out a solid reputation through its short-term programs and seamlessly funnelling its graduates into the workplace. “A lot of people don’t want to go to school for three or four years. They want to spend as little time in school as possible and more time making a salary,” Borus said. Robertson’s career services team hires people with expertise in business and health care because their proximity to industry usually results in excellent matches between students and employers. Her team also doubles as cheerleaders. “When a student calls in to say they’ve got a job, we give each other high-fives. It’s an emotional investment for us,” she said. ❚

Some people love their careers but after 10 years, they want a change. We’ll help them find that next career.”

technicians and accounting specialists have gone on to work at Loblaws. The salaries for graduates depend on the programs they’ve taken but Borus said accounting specialists, for example, can earn anywhere from $33,000 to $56,000. Accounting students who graduate with a specialty in

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WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017 11

Herzing College has developed the Integrated Learning System which incorporates both online and on-campus learning. Submitted photo

HERZING COLLEGE

DRIVEN BY INNOVATION By Todd Lewys for the Free Press

It’s a mantra we’ve all heard before: innovate, or become irrelevant. With that in mind, post-secondary education institutions have been working hard to stay relevant by providing busy students with fresh, flexible course options that can be custom-tailored to their individual needs. Kerry Swanson, President of Winnipeg-based Herzing College, says his institution has come up with a new concept called the Integrated Learning System. “It’s essentially a hybrid delivery system that incorporates both online and on-campus learning. Students can learn both ways — whichever suits them best at a particular time,” he says. “You can go in to a classroom and take in a lecture, or you can access lectures via pre-recorded modules.” Basically, students — in this case primarily those in the ever- expanding millennial bracket — have the best of both worlds. “In either case, instructors will work closely with students to ensure they get all the concepts and information being taught. That said, students can access a very cool feature — they can go back to the video of the lecture to make sure they didn’t miss out on any notes. With this format, you never miss out on anything.” At the same time, the online delivery format is also very user-friendly. “Lectures are about 10 to 12 minutes. Students then go on to do a lesson-related exercise. If they do it successfully, they can choose to go on. If they’re not successful, they can re-do the exercise. The instructor is also available to

help the student out, if need be,” Swanson explains. “This method of learning is becoming very popular.” In short, it’s essential that colleges, schools and universities recognize the learning demands of today’s students. “Everyone learns differently and at a different pace, so you need to use different modalities to meet those differing needs,” he says. “We’re working hard at developing modalities that allow students seamless access, either by video online or by direct, in-class learning.” All that work on developing cutting-edge programming is being driven by one central thought, adds Swanson. “We want to see people succeed, so we’re going to make whatever efforts are required to help students achieve success. For that to happen, education has to be delivered in a flexible manner.” With so many students leading demanding lives outside of school, that flexibility is key. “Because students have a wide variety of options to choose from, they can choose what they want to study and then study it in the way that best suits them, when they have time to study,” he says. “The beauty of it all is we can provide students with a marketable skill in a short period of time.” That means that students no longer need to feel “stuck.” “You can now continue to work while going to school, so there’s an option — you don’t have to be stuck in a job you don’t like. Flexible education options are now providing people with the ability to make positive long-term changes in their lives,” says Swanson, adding that Digital Marketing Assistant and Radio, TV and Broadcasting are two of Herzing’s most popular programs. It’s no surprise the Integrated Learning System, with its ultra- flexible delivery options, is gaining popularity. “Word is starting to get out,” he says. “People are talking about how practical and innovative the approach is. The

key is that it’s not distance education — you’re not on your own, and it’s very interactive, in the neighbourhood of getting close to a virtual classroom.” Though there’s a long way to go before the virtual classroom concept becomes reality, Herzing is committed to refining program delivery methods so they can provide even better options to students. “We’re very excited about it — there’s so much potential. We’re going to continue to push the envelope in terms of innovation. By doing that, we can create accessible, flexible educational opportunities for people who didn’t have them before.” For more information on Herzing College’s wide variety of innovative programs, visit herzing.ca/Winnipeg, or call 204-775-8175. ❚

‘‘ It’s essentially a hybrid delivery system that incorporates both online and on-campus learning. Students can learn both ways — whichever suits them best at a particular time.”

RED RIVER COLLEGE LAUNCHES NEW COURSES EXPLORING INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE AND CULTURE As part of continued efforts to support the growth and revitalization of Indigenous languages in Manitoba classrooms, Red River College has launched a pair of new courses exploring Anishinaabemowin language and culture.

Learn a Traditional Language EXPLORE INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION AT RRC Each course is designed to help you read, write and speak Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe/Salteaux), and increase your understanding of its social, cultural and historical significance.

The courses are the first of their kind to be offered by RRC, and will be delivered through a partnership between its School of Indigenous Education and its School of Continuing Education. The College is committed to providing opportunities for educators to learn to speak, read and write in traditional Anishinaabemowin languages, which in turn will help to support and enhance the success of Indigenous students at RRC. “As a College, we are taking the lead to provide more opportunities for educators to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous language and identity, and to continue to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous learners in our community,” says Rebecca Chartrand, RRC’s Executive Director of Indigenous Strategy.

“The Reconciliation Commission of Canada has called for action to protect the right to Indigenous languages, including the teaching of Aboriginal languages as credit courses. As a learning institution, it is critical for Red River College to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, perspectives and content, and to create innovative and relevant programming in order to achieve this.” The College’s Introduction to Truth and Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture course is geared to non-fluent or semi- fluent speakers, while a more advanced course is available for intermediate and fluent speakers. Both will be offered on a part-time basis beginning in January 2018. To learn more, visit rrc.ca/acl. ❚

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 204.694.1789 | CDE@RRC.CA | RRC.CA/ACL

12 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2017

ASSINIBOINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LOCAL ROOTS By Geoff Kirbyson for the Free Press

Dr. Sajjad Rao and his team at Assiniboine Community College aren’t going to solve the world’s food crisis on their own, but they’re more than doing their part.

The instructor and researcher at the Brandon-based facility oversees a pair of programs — horticulture and sustainable food systems — that provide students with hands-on experience in how to grow food and vegetable crops in traditional fields as well managing those processes in greenhouses. Most consumers probably don’t realize it during their weekly grocery shops but much of the food production industry is moving to greenhouse production. Many vegetables you find in the produce section, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and bell peppers, aren’t pulled out of the ground or off a plant in a field — they’re grown inside. It’s no surprise, really, when you think about it. Despite the glorious summer of 2017, southern Manitoba usually only gets between 105 and 110 frost-free days each year. If you push your luck, you run the risk your crops will die a cold and costly death. Canadians are spoiled when it comes to access to food but with increasingly unpredictable weather — hello, hurricanes — in prime growing areas, such as the Caribbean and the southern U.S., it’s becoming crucial for local areas to become self-sufficient, Rao said. “Weather is a big limitation. If a big storm is coming, we won’t have food for two to three days in our grocery stores. There are also (new) issues with transporting goods across the border. The rules are changing every day,” he said. “We have to produce locally. We can’t rely on produce that isn’t produced close to us.” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicts the global population will hit 9.1 billion in just 23 years — up from 7.6 billion today — and that means the world will need to up its food production substantially to feed everybody. Rao said the global food situation is “alarming.” “Food security is a big issue. We need to make sure there’s enough food for everyone. Scientists are working towards that. In Manitoba, we’re looking at our northern area. There are food security issues there. The big limitation is climate so we’re looking for greenhouses so they can grow their own food there,” he said. Assiniboine has a number of active research

projects on the go, including one on sweet potatoes and another on biological pest control. Potatoes are in extremely high demand in Manitoba because of the McCain Foods and Simplot french-fry processing plants in Portage la Prairie and another McCain facility in Carberry. Combined, the three plants produce more than one million pounds of frozen french fries per year. To help ease the strain, Rao said sweet potatoes can also fit the bill. “The challenge is to identify the sweet potato variety that can mature in a short season. I’m testing those here. There is a lot of potential. The growers are looking forward to growing these sweet potatoes,” he said. They also manage greenhouse pests with non-food-eating insects that eat the food- eating ones. Just as importantly, it’s all done in an environmentally-friendly manner. “There are no chemicals on the (greenhouse) fruit. It’s safe for consumption,” he said. Assiniboine also grows food and vegetables for the culinary arts and hospitality industries, to give students in each discipline an appreciation of the other two. “We are bridging the gap and making a connection between the three. Students in the culinary arts see how food is produced in the field,” he said. Upon graduating, Assiniboine students are fully equipped to work in the field, including in greenhouses, how to water, fertilize and prune plants, manage lighting conditions as well as how to manage a farm’s operations. “They’ll be exposed to everything, all aspects of farm management,” he said. Of course, we shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Nobody is going to flip a switch and move all vegetable and food production into greenhouses over the weekend. But it never hurts to be prepared. “We’re in the early days of moving towards greenhouses, but it is coming,” he said. ❚ Top: Assiniboine Community College instructor and researcher Sajjad Rao and student Stephanie Hinrichs work in a greenouse. Middle: Student Tiffany Nykolyshyn waters plants. Bottom: Dipak Motisariya shows off sweet potatoes. Submitted photos

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