Digital humanities expert designs programs for the future

When Christine McWebb helped design the new Master of Digital Experience Innovation (MDEI) program she created partnerships with industry so graduates would be better positioned to work in careers they love.

Christine McWebb, director of academic programs at the Stratford campus

So when she heard that a graduate from the first MDEI class landed a job as a usability specialist and information architect at the CBC, and another grad had joined Samsung’s head office in Dallas, Texas, McWebb suspected they were on the right track.

McWebb, director of academic programs at the Stratford campus, says internships at companies like OpenText and Google and with organizations like the Stratford Festival, are an integral part of the program.

 “The response has been extremely positive from students in the program,” says McWebb. “They really like the focus on working in teams, and also the industry involvement.”

Software boot camp

The program starts with a two-week boot camp that helps students brush up on software programs and gel as a team. McWebb also decided to open the program up to students from a wide range of disciplines all over the world. The first class also included newly-minted undergrads and mid-career professionals.

Graduate Hira Javed, the grad who works for the CBC now, says: “The interdisciplinary nature of the program and the diverse academic, professional and cultural backgrounds of the students really provide a well-rounded perspective of our digital world.”

In addition to the MDEI, McWebb also launched a similarly interdisciplinary new undergraduate program in global business and digital arts. After spending the first two years mostly at the Waterloo campus, students migrate to take digital and project-oriented courses on the Stratford campus for their final years. Students also prepare for the exam to gain the Certified Associate Project Management accreditation, yet another bonus in terms of employability.

Given her background, it’s not surprising that McWebb is enthusiastic about all things digital. While she’s an associate professor with the French department with a background in medieval literature, she’s part of a new generation of scholars looking to create new ways to access and assess texts using digital formats. Already she’s worked as co-director of the MARGOT project, which digitizes and makes medieval texts available online. She’s also developing annotation software for humanities scholars.