Due the pandemic, around 355,000 workers lost their jobs in 2020 alone and the Canadian economy is continuing to feel that impact. But, amid that crisis, many individuals found a way to start new careers and pursue their dreams.
To support them and their entrepreneurial spirit, the York University School of Continuing Studies played a leadership role in advocating that our intensive professional continuing education programs qualify for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
This August, the Ontario Government released the first list of “micro-credential” eligible programs for funding under OSAP. With this development, workers will now be able to apply for financial assistance as they endeavour to upskill or reskill through certificate programs. The School launched its initial suite of programs in the OSAP-eligible intensive format earlier this year with more scheduled this fall and winter.
According to Christine Brooks-Cappadocia, Director of Continuing Professional Education at the School of Continuing Studies, “These innovative re-skilling programs were designed in collaboration with industry experts to adapt to market shifts and prepare workers for in-demand roles that we know employers are looking to fill immediately.”
Qualifying programs from the School of Continuing Studies
Currently, the School’s initial suite of professional certificate programs offered as OSAP-eligible intensive formats include the Certificate in Family Mediation, and the award-winning Certificate in Cyber Security Fundamentals and Certificate in Advanced Cyber Security. The School is also offering an OSAP-eligible intensive format of its Certificate in People Analytics this fall, with OSAP-eligible intensive formats of the Certificate in Digital Marketing, Certificate in Big Data Fundamentals and Certificate in Advanced Data Science and Predictive Analytics scheduled for winter 2022.
Since the initial launch of these 12-week programs, three cohorts of students have graduated and prepared for new careers in high-demand roles. The accelerated and intensive format of these programs means that students can stay on the cusp of economic and business trends and find their own niche – whether that’s advancing to a management position or even starting up their own business.
Our industry-expert instructors have played a crucial role preparing graduates for their new roles and, in some cases, even offering them new opportunities after graduation.
A number of students in the Cyber Security Intensive have been hired into the field after completing the program. Ed Dubrovsky, Managing Partner & COO, Cyber Breach Response at Cytelligence Inc, says, “I have personally hired many students from the Cyber Security program into my company including most recently the Cyber Security Intensive program. The program has no equal in the industry in terms of being an incredible jumping board into a rewarding and satisfying career. As an instructor in the program, I have seen hundreds of students combine enthusiasm, hard work and integrity into the program and emerge as cybersecurity professionals in the field.”
We’re on the right path to recovery and helping professionals pivot towards their dream careers and opportunities will go a long way in speeding up that process.
Find out more about professional programs offered at the School of Continuing Studies and our suite of OSAP-eligible intensive programs that have been approved by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities.
