COVID-19 has had a profound effect on every aspect of our lives. The University of Waterloo is committed to creating a brighter outlook for our students and employers. Many businesses are at risk because they lack a strong digital approach. By equipping our students with the digital skills and talents to find work and make a significant contribution to organizations of all kinds, Waterloo is paving the road to a strong future.
Here is how you can equip yourself to succeed in an ever-changing and complex world of work.
Enrol in the Digital Skills Fundamentals course – learn the skills most needed in business today and tomorrow.
We have partnered with Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, Vidyard, Larry Smith (Director and Founder, The Problem Lab), Kiite Academy, Shopify and Deloitte to deliver the mini-courses they have created so you can build your digital skills!
These mini-courses are designed to introduce you to the fundamental concepts of website development, digital and video marketing, and problem analysis. The course bundle is offered to all students at no charge. You can take all the mini-courses or sign up for any of the mini-courses individually. You don’t need to have any previous experience in any of these areas of expertise.
The introductory mini-courses are:
1) Introduction to digital marketing
The purpose of these workshops is to introduce students to the rudimentary concepts of digital marketing. Students will emerge from these workshops with a foundational knowledge that is essential to more advanced or independent learning, and a curated list of quality resources in which they may pursue further skills development.
This mini-course includes 5 workshops:
- Introduction to Social Media Marketing
- Paid Content
- Analytics
- Visual Content Creation
- Email Communications
This mini-course has been generously provided by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.
About Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business
The Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business at the University of Waterloo offers undergraduate and graduate programs in digital arts and design within a global business framework. Students combine creative exploration, critical thinking and design research to create positive technology-enhanced user experiences.
Our students and faculty respond to current design challenges and anticipate possible digital futures, often in collaboration with partners outside the university. In particular, we take a human-centered approach to technology while being mindful of social, cultural and environmental impact.
2) Introduction to web design
The purpose of these workshops is to introduce students to the rudimentary concepts of web design. Students will emerge from these workshops with a foundational knowledge that is essential to more advanced or independent learning, and a curated list of quality resources in which they may pursue further skills development.
This mini-course includes 5 workshops:
- Introduction to the World Wide Web
- Introduction to HTML
- Introduction to CSS
- Visual and Usability Design Fundamentals
- Content Management Systems
This mini-course has been generously provided by the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business.
3) Introduction to video marketing
The purpose of this mini-course is to introduce students to the basic principles of video marketing, video production and how video can be used effectively in digital marketing. Students will gain fundamental knowledge that is essential to more advanced or independent learning, and have access to a curated list of quality resources that they may pursue for further skills development.
This mini-course includes 4 modules/workshops:
- What is Video Marketing? The Ultimate Guide to Video Marketing.
- Developing a Video Strategy in Business: Developing a Video Content Strategy.
- Most Common Types of Video in Business: Video Series
- Getting Started with Video Production The Complete Guide to Video Production
This mini-course has been generously provided by Vidyard.
About Vidyard
Vidyard is the online video platform for business. Whether you need a video management solution for your existing videos, or video software to create new ones, Vidyard is the fastest way to record and manage videos online.
4) Maximizing your value to the employer
This mini-course introduces the concept of problem analysis and how that approach can be used by students to demonstrate value to an employer. how problem analysis allows any worker to be more effective and to be more innovative. If you don't understand the problem, you don't know which existing tool to use to fix it; if you don't understand the problem, you don't know whether you should create a new tool to solve it. We explain the use of problem analysis in initial interviews, in the co-op workplace itself, in securing employment upon graduation and advancing in your career.
This mini-course has been generously provided by Larry Smith (Director and Founder, The Problem Lab).
About Larry Smith
Larry Smith, BA, MA, is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business. In his previous roles, Larry worked with the Canadian Construction Association and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. Larry holds his BA and MA from the University of Waterloo.
5) Introduction to sales skills
The purpose of this mini-course is to introduce students to the basics of the art of objection handling, establishing mindset, and building buyer empathy to teach you how to sell like a pro. Students will complete the mini-course with a basic knowledge of the sales process and can then access the Kiite Academy of online video resources, complementary assessments and self-assessments to help sales professionals grow their knowledge in key areas.
This mini-course has been generously provided by Kiite Academy.
About Kiite Academy
Kiite Academy is a combination of online video resources, complementary assets, and self-assessments to help sales professionals grow their knowledge in key areas such as prospecting, conversational fluency, and sales process. Kiite partnered with subject matter experts to create a library of actionable content, all available at no cost online, to help sales professionals level up their skills.
6) Introduction to e-commerce
The purpose of this mini-course is to introduce students on how to work with Shopify as an e-commerce platform for organizations. Students will complete the course with a basic knowledge of e-commerce and how to establish an online store, and a curated list of quality resources in which to pursue further skills development. This mini-course has been generously provided by Shopify.
This mini-course has been generously provided by Shopify.
About Shopify
Shopify Inc. is a Canadian multinational e-commerce company and is also the name of its proprietary e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Shopify offers online retailers a suite of services including payments, marketing, shipping and customer engagement tools to simplify the process of running an online store for small merchants.
7) Cyber 101 - Cyber risk solutions
This mini-course will prepare students to be aware of current cyber terminology, issues and solutions an organization may implement to address cyber risk needs, and of potential cyber career opportunities.
This mini-course has been created and generously provided by Deloitte.
About Deloitte in Canada
Deloitte provides audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. Deloitte serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies through a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories bringing world-class capabilities, insights and service to address clients’ most complex business challenges. Deloitte LLP is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, which is a network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity.
- It takes about 30 hours to complete the entire set of mini-courses in the Digital Skills Fundamentals course.
- This course can be taken in part or in its entirety. There is no time limit on its completion.
- There is no set sequence or order that these courses need to be taken in.
- These courses are self-directed and not for credit. They are intended to augment your existing skills and provide you with new skills that could be useful in today’s workforce.
- Students who satisfactorily complete the self-directed assignments, quizzes, and activities related to each topic are eligible to receive a digital badge in Digital Skills Fundamentals.
To enrol in the mini-courses above, follow the instructions to access self-registration courses and search for “Digital Skills – Fundamentals” on the Self-Registration page in LEARN.
Are you getting ready to start your first year at the University of Waterloo? Incoming students have been automatically enrolled in the Digital Skills Fundamentals course on LEARN as part of Waterloo Ready.
Material may be added over the next few weeks and students should sign up through LEARN for course announcements.
Why take this course?
Waterloo employers have said that the digital skills in these programs are much needed in their organizations, especially in the current climate. Digital literacy and technological savvy are critical skill sets that will be needed in small and medium businesses in particular.
Take advantage of these resources, upgrade your skills and look for job opportunities to utilize your knowledge. By taking part, you can help build economic recovery by bringing these valued skills to businesses. These digital skills can make a difference in our current job search for spring or fall work terms, particularly as many organizations continue to operate remotely.
Our team at CEE is working hard with employers to see how students with these skills can help meet business needs.
Future Ready Talent Framework
Post-pandemic, there has been a significant difference in what employers are looking for when it comes to a workforce. Waterloo’s Future Ready Talent Framework (FRTF) is a tool developed by the university to help students understand what primary skills are needed to thrive in a workplace after the pandemic.
