In many respects the transformation of our economy has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. As more Ontarians choose to re-skill for a changing workforce, the Government of Ontario has made more than 600 micro-credentials at its colleges and universities eligible for student financial aid. Aviation and Community Building with Economic Development are two of the re-skilling options at UW.
The University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program (EDP) is one of two Faculty of Environment credentials now OSAP-eligible. The Economic Development Certificate is jointly issued by the University of Waterloo and the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC) and trains future sustainability leaders in everything from community marketing and financial analysis for small business to entrepreneurship and incubation.
The program’s Fundamentals of Community Economic Development course is still accepting applicants and will run May 17 to 21 of 2021. This course helps economic development professionals learn the basics of the field, from what an EDO really does, to measuring success. Generalists will learn strategies for handling the many and diverse tasks they are expected to do. Specialists will learn about the spectrum of economic development activities and become more insightful team members.
A specialised seminar on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is scheduled for 27 May 2021.
Waterloo’s Aviation Fundamentals (AviFun) course is also now available for those on the Ontario Student Assistance Program. The class, pioneered by Suzanne Kearns is a 20-hour online course teaching the fundamentals of the international air transport system.
This course, offered in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), is available on-demand and has been completed by thousands of learners from around the world. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the various careers and activities performed across all sectors of aviation that make up the international air transport system.
For more information about which other Ontario micro-credential programs are being offered visit the official Government of Ontario release.