The buzz of back-to-school is in the air as students prepare to head back to class. The start of the academic year holds much optimism and energy, overflowing with potential. For those who are looking to get that feeling of promise without the long term commitment of enrolling in school, micro-credentials and non-credit programming offer the perfect balance.
Micro-credentials offer learners the opportunity to build on their skills and abilities in a specific area. Laurentian University offers 17 micro-credential courses, in English and French. From health care to homegrown greens, the possibilities are as diverse as the people interested in them.
Christina Sckopke is the manager of Micro-Credentials and Non-Credit Programming with the Centre for Teaching and Continuing Learning (CTLC) at Laurentian University. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and a Master's of Science in Nursing from Laurentian.
After 15 years in nursing, Christina sought out professional development to improve her chances of securing a managerial role. Having taken them herself, she has since worked to develop Laurentian's list of professional development options and is an advocate for the potential that micro-credentials offer to professionals.
"I really believe in the power of micro-credentials because I know, from personal experience, their ability to grow a person's capacity and set them apart," Christina said. "Professional development like this is an investment in yourself and shows an eagerness to succeed."
In her role with the CTLC, Christina identifies gaps that could benefit from supplemental education and works with partners to develop courses to close those gaps.
"The courses are for adults of all ages. We have some that start at 16-plus. It depends on the course. We limit the courses to 30 hours and ask that learners plan to commit two to five hours a week to study time. These are competency-based and accessible because we recognize that learners often have a busy schedule."
Grant Writing and End of Life Doula are Laurentian's most popular courses for those seeking professional development and they, like many of the courses, are covered by OSAP, reducing the barrier of funding for learners.
Thanks to funding recently received through the Ontario Micro-credential Challenge Fund, the CTCL has plans to develop three new micro-credentials to address skills gaps in priority sectors.
- Applied Behavior Reduction Techniques
- Urban Aging and Inclusive Design
- Music in Northern Care
Registration is offered several times throughout the year. Interested participants can register for the next cycle of courses before August 28th.
