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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1510895
26 BCBUSINESS.CA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 SPECIAL FEATURE E D U C A T I O N F O R P R O F E S S I O N A L S LASALLE COLLEGE VANCOUVER In the creative sector, careers and industry are booming. The demand for talent is high and professionals in this area are discovering that continuing education is essential for long term growth and to achieve leadership positions. "Between the ever-changing techno- logical landscape and the inundation of new applications for conventional design practices, there has never been a higher need or opportunity for upskilling," says Maximillion Semchuk, Director of Market- ing, Western Canada & Asia Pacific, LaSalle College Vancouver. "Learners are seeking options that balance flexibility, value and measurable outcomes, being an accredit- ed or recognized certificate, diploma or degree that they can use to secure the job they've been dreaming of, secure a salary increase or change their career trajectory altogether." LaSalle College Vancouver has tailored its offerings to offer accredited e-learning programs that provide flexibility in study schedules, allowing students to earn diplo- mas at their own pace. Its instructors are industry leaders, ensuring that students gain practical skills aligned with current industry requirements, and not just theo- retical knowledge. "Our accelerated programs enable learners to complete their degrees a year faster than their peers, which means they can enter the job market sooner and increase their earning potential," Semchuk says. "We focus on academic, technical and practical elements of each field, ensuring graduates have a deep understanding of their desired jobs." LaSalle College Vancouver is currently moving to a purpose-built education center with over 108,000 square feet, equipped with the latest technology for active learning and social engagement. "We also emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration, encouraging students to work with diverse groups in different programs, mirroring the real workplace," Semchuk says. "Our programs are designed for long-term career success, with a focus on portfolio development, resume writing, interview skills, industry events, and job placement." LaSalle College Vancouver offers the only accredited degree program in fashion design in Canada and has been consis- tently rated the top video game design and video game programming school in Canada for over a decade. "Our consecutive learning program structure, with four quarters per year, allows students to fully develop projects, resulting in finished portfolios and real project experience upon graduation," Semchuk says. "This hands-on approach is highly sought after by top companies like Microsoft, Electronic Arts, and Fairmont, which often hire directly from our school." UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA – CONTINUING STUDIES "Between climate change, new technolo- gies, shifting demographics and the recent pandemic, there is a lot happening in the workforce these days," says Dr. Jo-Anne Clarke, dean, Division of Continuing Studies. "These are big, complex trends to grapple with—exciting and scary at the same time." The 2023 World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report estimates that "44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next five years" and "six in 10 workers will require training before 2027." "The magnitude of labour-market churn is like nothing we have experienced before," Clarke says. "Lifelong learning is no longer a luxury—it's a requirement." Individuals are looking for opportu- nities to upgrade their skills so they can keep up with workforce changes. And professional learners are busy—they need high quality learning that fits into their lifestyle and schedule. "This is why online learning is so popular," Clarke says. "You can learn anytime from anywhere, whether from work, at home, commuting or travelling." Continuing education programs at UVic are not new—the school has been ahead of the curve, offering flexible learn- ing for decades. What is new is the surge of interest in micro-credentials—short, focused learning opportunities to help people develop a certain level of compe- tency in a particular area. In reply, UVic is increasingly developing shorter micro-credentials with options to ladder into longer programs if learners want to. "This way, professional learners have more leniency to design a learning path that is right for them," Clarke says. "This is adult learning theory in practise!" Subjects range from the universal, such as Essential Soft Skills Training, to special- ized areas like the Mapping with Drones micro-certificate. This fall, UVic launched several new micro-credentials that are good examples of professional develop- ment in current topics, including micro- certificates in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Climate Action Planning and Marketing Communications. The school has also revised and updated long-standing pro- grams, like the Diploma in Public Relations continued on page 30 LaSalle College Vancouver University of Victoria – Continuing Studies