Thursday, May 29, 2014

Information on Post-Secondary Construction and Maintenance Electrician Programs in Canada

The two-year post-secondary Electrician: Construction and Maintenance - Electrical Engineering Technician program at Centennial College is a co-op diploma apprenticeship program that educates and trains students in as apprentices in electrician trade. The focus is on helping students
  • Gain thorough understanding in electrical engineering sciences
  • Understand the operation of electrical motors
  • Learn to test power equipment and systems
  • Learn to troubleshoot electrical circuits and devices and systems
  • Learn to assess the performance of electrical systems in residential, commercial and industrial complexes
  • Develop ability to install electrical systems in buildings
With the increased dependence on electrical systems and devices, the demand for professionals to install, maintain and troubleshoot them has also increased. They are expected to be able to work on traditional as well new equipment and devices with equal ease and comfort. However, there is a technical skills shortage in Canada. The Electrical Engineering Technician - Construction and Maintenance program is designed to fill this skill gap by educating and training individuals who are interested in building a career in this field.

The program graduates, construction and maintenance electricians, will be able to work on various electrical systems and install, maintain, troubleshoot, repair and replace them. Moreover, they will also develop good communication skills and excellent understanding of Canadian electrical code and ethics in technology environment. This prepares them to take up front-end jobs and deal directly with the clients.

Program Highlights

Courses

Centennial College's two-year program in construction and maintenance electrician covers a wide range of subjects in electrical code and prints, installation methods, electrical theory, monitoring systems, AutoCAD, network and adv control systems, power generation and distribution, and ethics in technology and environment. The program combines theory and lab experience and takes a project approach to learning and stimulating actual workplace assignments.

Co-op Work Placement Component

As mentioned earlier, it is co-op diploma apprenticeship program, which allows students to gain work experience in a paid co-op placement. The college also assists students with sourcing of and preparation for co-op work placement opportunities. The focus is on helping students make their co-op work experience as meaningful as possible.

The program graduates can pursue their careers as construction and maintenance technicians in the areas of installation, service, repairs, sales and design. They are well-versed in:
  • Canadian electrical code usage
  • Reading and creating blueprints
  • Working on power generation and distribution equipment
  • Business communication
  • Controlling quality
  • Repairing electrical systems
Eligibility Requirements

In order to apply for this program, interested students can send a completed application form along with supporting documents, such as a copy of secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent, and scores in English grade 12 C or University or equivalent and Mathematics grade 11 M, 12 C or University or equivalent. Applicants are required to complete a questionnaire to assess co-op employability and attend a mandatory information session to discuss the questionnaire answers. With this, they must be able to work as apprentices in Ontario. International student applying for this course must get a credential evaluation done by an independent evaluator.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Change the Way the World Looks at Energy By Attending an Energy System Engineering Technician Program

The world is changing in terms of the way it views energy. As such, today's energy systems engineering programs must include in their curriculum a focus on innovative energy projects using small-scale sources such as fuel cells, solar, gas, wind, hydro turbines and biomass to feed electricity, heat and air conditioning to homes and businesses. Additionally, new green building initiatives are quickly increasing awareness and the use of sustainable, integrated architecture and engineering practices for new buildings is becoming common. These programs must also reflect those changes.

Centennial College's Energy Systems Engineering Technician program addresses both developments head-on as it trains students to: implement energy solutions for commercial and residential buildings using knowledge of energy systems, energy efficiency and renewable/distributed energy systems; work in power plants; design and maintain heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration units; and work with architectural companies to integrate energy technologies into the latest green buildings.

All training incorporates practical and theoretical components conducted from classrooms that are equipped to offer students hands-on experience that makes them employable upon graduation. Projects that mimic real world assignments, group work, research and more give students the opportunity to become comfortable with the tasks of an energy systems technician in Toronto.

To really understand the program and how well rounded it is when it comes to blending technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills that are highly sought after in modern energy and sustainable building companies, here is a look at some specific courses.

Digital & Power Electronics: Understanding digital circuits is essential to understanding energy distribution. This course blends theory and practical application as students learn about number systems and codes, all common gates (combinational logic), Boolean algebra, mapping, basic arithmetic circuits, gated latches, counters, and shift registers.

Renewable Energy System: Wind energy, solar systems, geothermal heat pumps, biomass, small hydraulics and fuel cells are all common renewable energy systems. Therefore, the theory governing these systems and their working principles are explained in this offering.

Energy, Environment, Society: Current topics in modern energy use are discussed. They include: world and North American primary energy sources; supply, demand and reserves, including fossil, nuclear and renewable energy resources; the laws governing conversion of energy from one form to another; thermodynamic efficiency of heat engines and end-use efficiency; and the fundamentals of electricity generation, transmission and end-use. As a practical aspect, students visit a fossil-fuelled or nuclear power plant, or electrical transmission substation.

Power Engineering and HVAC: Split into two parts, this course introduces students to prime mover and engine technologies, pumps and air compressors, and some of their applications. It also covers air conditioning and built-up HVAC systems and their related equipment technologies, as applied to large building design.

Design Project: Arguably the most practical of all the courses within this offering, Design Project places students into groups to design basic mechanical systems under the guidance of faculty. Students must consider aspects such as planning and design, time and cost management, and application of techniques developed from other mechanical courses to perform detail component analysis and necessary calculations.

Studying Business Administration in Ontario

Business administration is one of most popular programs among students. The reason being, this program makes them eligible for diverse careers in sales, purchasing, personnel management, general administration, accounting and finance, general and public administration, and franchise management. The graduates of this program can find employment practically in every industry.

Studying Business in Ontario

A large number of colleges provide post-secondary business administration diploma programs in Canada. But not all are accredited. In addition, most colleges focus on just classroom learning and do not expose them to live projects and technology-supported learning out of the classroom. Therefore, in order to build a strong foundation in business skills and enhance career possibilities upon graduation, it is of utmost importance to choose the right business administration college and the program.

A business administration program is worth considering if it
  • Incorporates learning based on extensive case analyses and direct research
  • Incorporates technology-supported learning in-and-out of the classroom
  • Offers ample opportunities to work on team projects
  • Provides exposure to the management practices of the leading companies
  • Is delivered by a team of professors with extensive business and management experience
  • Equal focus is placed on developing critical thinking and analysis and rigorous problem solving
Centennial College's three-year post-secondary diploma program in business administration meets all these criteria and provides students the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to become front-line managers of business enterprises in all types of industries. Moreover, the graduates of this program can either choose to pursue their careers or apply their academic credits towards further studies at the university.

Program Details

The business administration diploma runs for three years and helps students develop knowledge and skills in all areas of business including - finance and accounting, management information systems, operations management, general management leadership, human resources management, international business, marketing, project management, supply chain management and entrepreneurship.

The program places emphasis on building strong theoretical grounding and relevance and application to the world of business management. It is a general business management education program that covers a wide range of subjects in three years through six semesters. The focus is on helping students develop strong business acumen, awareness about business world and effective presentation, computer, critical analysis and problem solving skills.

During the program, the students are also exposed to the working styles and management practices of big businesses in the world. The program also offers students ample opportunities to work on team projects. It helps them inculcate skills to work in a team and share the responsibilities.

The program graduates can find employment as business executives, front-line managers, business representatives, sales executives or administration executives. They can also choose to study further by applying their credits towards a more advanced course in business administration at the university.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for this program, students will need to submit secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent and Mathematics Grade 11 M or 12 C or equivalent.

Students currently in high school can also apply for this program. Their midterm and final term scores will be automatically transmitted to the college.

Personal Support Worker Courses in Canada

A personal support worker program prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist individuals with disabilities, cognitive impairment and chronic illnesses. The focus is on helping them develop a full range of skills, enabling them to provide home and health related services to elderly and people who are physically or mentally challenged.

The program prepares students to function efficiently in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, residential care facilities, long-term care institutions, community support agencies, chronic care facilities, schools, nursing homes, and private duty and homecare. It trains students to work with patients and provide them with care and support to help them lead active and fulfilled lives in the communities and institutions.

Program Details

A personal support worker education program combines classroom learning with hands-on laboratory and clinical and community practice. The students acquire knowledge in human anatomy and developmental stages and alterations in health. They are prepared to work with people in different settings and support them in palliative care.

As establishing communication with clients is an important part of their job, a strong emphasis is placed on helping them develop personal support communication skills. In addition, the program includes filed placements in both community and clinical settings, helping them gain hands-on experience, which is a necessary condition to seek employment after course completion. They learn to participate as a member of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings.

The program graduates are capable of supporting the client's personal and home management care requirements and preferences, assisting in promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients and their families and reporting observations to appropriate health care team members in a timely and ongoing manner.

Program Duration

A post-secondary personal support workers course typically runs for one year through two semesters. It includes classroom learning and training in real world settings. Students enrolling in this course spend 15 weeks working with teams in long-term care institutions, hospitals and in the community, in order to gain practical experience. The training reflects the latest policies and practices in the field.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for a post-secondary PSW program, students will need to submit secondary school diploma or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

After admission but before course completion, they will also need to obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening and complete immunization requirements, a recognized course in CPR and an acknowledged course in Standard First Aid. They will also need to attend mask fit testing by the college.

Is a personal support worker program recognized?

A number of colleges in Canada offer post-secondary personal support worker programs. Unfortunately, not all are recognized. Therefore, it's important to carefully choose your college. Centennial College's certification program in personal support worker is recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings. In addition, the college provides students with much required industry exposure through industry field placements, which enhances their career prospects.

College Courses Prepare You For An Array of Options

Attending college allows you to enjoy a form of learning that doesn’t limit you in your options. There is no rule that says you must enter the workforce right after you graduate if, for example, you want to pursue further education. On the other hand, if you want to get into the field quicker than you first anticipated, certain college programs may offer you that option.

As such, it is safe to say that college courses prepare students for various options that make the learning experience more personalized and specifically tailored. Here is a look at Centennial College that will help you to understand how courses at a college level can work for you.

Career: All courses, no matter your ultimate goal, are designed to prepare you for a career. At Centennial College, this is achieved through a practical approach to education. As such, courses offer an ideal balance between theory-based lectures and application to ensure that students are fully grasping concepts.

Career Upgrade: Courses in Fast-Track programs or those within the School of Continuing Education are completed in a shorter amount of time because they are geared at those with some sort of experience in the field or a previous post-secondary education. Either way, it is expected that mature students are looking to upgrade or switch their career paths so all of the courses are more specialized and in-depth compared to courses geared at students coming out of high school.

More specialized programs: Some courses at Centennial College serve to offer students a foundation so that they may excel once they enter a more specialized program. These courses are geared towards students who may not yet have decided what educational or career path they want to choose, or those who do not have the credentials required to enter the program of their choice. Through these courses, they are prepared to take on the college or university environment with confidence and a base.

University Preparation: Another type of course at college level serves to prepare students for further training at university level. These courses are presented within joint programs, which see students spending some of their time at the college campus and then switching over to a partner university. At Centennial College, students can attend collaborative or joint programs with Ryerson University and the University of Toronto in nursing, applied microbiology, environmental science and technology, journalism, new media studies and paramedicine. They get practical and technical strengths of a college diploma and the theoretical foundations of a four-year bachelor degree.

School of Continuing Education Covers Wide Range of Areas

Deciding to go back to school is an easy decision for some. They know exactly what program they wish to attend, they can clearly envision their career and they have already decided what delivery format is best suited for them. However, other students may find the decision to continue their education quite intimidating. It doesn't have to be.

At Centennial College, students can pursue a Toronto education that is tailored exactly to their needs thanks to the School of Continuing Education (CE) and its array of offering and delivery formats. To help students with choosing what is best for them is the Student Advising Centre, which includes a branch called Academic Advising. This service helps students make well-informed educational choices by assisting them in finding a program which is customized to their overall career goals. Advisors provide students with up-to-date program information and connect them with the appropriate resources on campus, which will further aid in their academic enrichment. Academic advising at Centennial College is provided by a knowledgeable body of faculty and staff who strive to assist students during their transition to Centennial.

Once students have a clear idea of their Continuing Education goals, they will also obtain an idea of the delivery format that may suit them the most. The majority of CE programs are offered as on-campus undertakings. Students attend classes part-time on evenings and weekends. These classes are facilitated from specialized campuses that are designed to compliment the curriculum of particular programs. As such, students complete projects and attend classes within fully-equipped labs and classrooms.

If, however, a student's schedule doesn't permit him or her to attend on-campus classes, Centennial College's School of continuing education offers Distance Learning. This modality is best suited for independent learners who wish to study in their own time with minimal help from faculty members and little peer-to-peer interaction. With access to online classrooms, students have some sense of class through discussion boards and email interaction. Meanwhile, through Print-Based Correspondence, students study on their own with access to mentors and faculty members via phone. Their materials are mailed to them at the beginning of their course.

The School of Continuing Education offers programs in the areas of Business (Financial Planning, Investment Services, Canadian Investment Funds); Art, Design and Languages (Digital Publishing, Spanish, Screenwriting for Film and Television); Community Services (Child and Youth Worker, Early Childhood Education, Therapeutic Recreation); Engineering and Technology (AutoCAD, Electrical Power Systems, Fluid Power Technician); General Education and Teaching (Training and Development, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Teaching English as a Foreign Language); and Transportation and Motorcycle (Automotive Service Advisor, Scooter Training, Electrical/Electronics Automotive).

Distance Learning offerings, meanwhile, focuses on very practical offerings that may also build on the education and experience that students have already been achieved, either in Canada or another country. Among specific online programs are: Retirement Communities Management, Ophthalmic Medical Personnel, Medical Office Assistant, Fundraising, Canadian Employee Relocation. Lastly, specific Print-Based Correspondence courses include: SmartServe, Cosmetics by Correspondence, Business Management – Marketing and more.

Competencies Required for Becoming a Computer Networking Professional

As more companies are adopting advanced computer technologies and establishing superior networking systems, the need for computer networking professionals is also increasing. Practically every company today relies of computer systems technologists to ensure that all the devices are connected, and working smoothly.

The communication systems at work are quite complex and keeping them at work always is a more complex job. As the information transferring and sharing needs of each organization are different, the communication systems are tailor-made and are upgraded whenever required.

However, they can sometimes breakdown or lines can be broken or hardware and software systems may create problems. In order to keep them under control and make them perform in the expected manner, the organizations need computer technology professionals who are knowledgeable, well trained and have the ability to deal with technical issues.

Job Prospects

As mentioned earlier, the demand for computer networking professionals is constantly increasing. The growth in this field is faster than the average and higher as compared to other sectors. So, it is a good time to enter the work and build rewarding careers in the field of information technology.

Growth in this field can be attributed to many factors;
(1) computer networks are integral part of the business world as well as in personal life;
(2) keeping up with current technology is a must to survive the competition;
(3) making best possible use of technology is important to keep ahead of competition and;
(4) there is a shortage of highly knowledgeable and skilled computer networking professionals.

Therefore, professionals with strong educational background, hands-on practical and understanding of ethics in technology and the environment are in great demand. Employers, in addition to this, also look for strong customer skills while hiring them.

Prerequisites for Becoming a Computer Networking Professional

In order to become computer networking professionals, the candidates are required to gain following competencies (education and skills).

Education

A formal education in computer systems technology - networking is the minimum requirement to seek employment in the industry. A post-secondary computer networking course can help you gain the knowledge and skills required to work on the growing mesh of internet, intranet, extranet and telecoms, computers and hardware and software.

Centennial College's three-year post-secondary program in computer systems technology incorporates the latest in computer systems, offering them in-depth knowledge about operating systems, configuration and troubleshooting wired and wireless networks, in order to have full control of the computing and communicating technology.

In order to apply for this program, students will need to submit secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University and Mathematics 11 M or 12 C or University or equivalent.

Hands-on Practical

In addition to theoretical understanding, the professionals need to have substantial hands-on experience, in order to become employable. Centennial College's program also incorporates computer networking training through hands-on lab and industry field placements. The program also offers an optional co-op component, allowing academically qualified students enhance their education by working three terms as paid employees in the field.

Skills

The professionals are also expected to possess strong technical problem solving, communication, technical report writing and project management skills along with strong technology fundamentals and hands-on experience.

Obtain Real Life Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic Experience at College Level

To become a Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic, one must complete some fort of refrigeration mechanic course. Centennial College offers an especially appealing undertaking that is completed in three years. Here is a look at some of the specific benefits of the undertaking.

Open Admission: To apply for this offering, there is only one main requirement. The applicant must currently be employed as an apprentice. As such, essentially the offering serves as a way for those already in the field to move up and advance their careers. It is, however, not a program by which students can apply directly to Centennial College or at ontariocolleges.ca. Instead, they must contact that Apprenticeship and Adjustment Branch.

Three Levels: The offering is delivered through three years and three different levels. Year one consists of basic training that includes fundamentals so that students have a solid foundation on which to base their knowledge. Year two is full of intermediate level topics that are more in depth, as students now have the base to understand the inner workings of refrigeration and air conditioning systems. The final year offers advanced level courses that allow students to employ everything they have learned in the previous two years.

On-the-Job Experience: Because this is an apprenticeship program, students not only attend in-school sessions that are conducted at state-of-the-art facilities at one of the province's largest trades training centres, Progress Campus. They also have the opportunity to venture off campus to spend time working at their place of employment to implement the knowledge they have gained. This hands-on aspect of the apprenticeship is essential to ensuring that students are well prepared for their positions upon graduation.

Wide Range of Knowledge: Over the course of the three years of the offering, students gain insight into a wide range of subjects. Essentially all of the courses combined cover the ins and outs of design, installation and service techniques of heating and air conditioning systems in residential and commercial buildings. Additionally, it is worth noting that faculty members who have experience in the industry and can offer students advice and personal anecdotes to enhance the learning experience teach the courses.

After completing every air conditioning mechanic course, students write the exam for their certificate of qualification. Passing this exam means they qualify for a certificate of apprenticeship from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and that they are certified in their chosen occupation.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Fitness and Health Promotion Programs in Canada

Staying fit is the latest mantra. There has been a revival of interest in physical fitness and exercise in last few years. Although the lifestyle of a majority of people is still sedentary but an appropriate approach to fitness and health promotion by industry professionals can encourage them to make dedicated efforts to stay fit and healthy.

Career Prospects for Health and Fitness Professionals

As the fitness industry is experiencing a boom, there is an increased scope for health and fitness professionals as far as their careers are concerned. They can build careers in the areas of fitness counselling and training, injury management, wellness program development and implementation, fitness marketing, fitness products marketing, and health and fitness consultancy.

The professionals can find employment in various industry sectors, including community, corporate fitness, municipal recreation, retail fitness and hospitals as fitness instructors, personal trainers, fitness consultants, wellness program developers, health and fitness counsellors, fitness product marketers or fitness assessors. Not only this, they can start their own business in fitness and health promotion industry.

Prerequisites for Building a Career

However, to build a rewarding career, they need to have undergone a formal education and training in this field. With this, they are also expected to have a relevant hands-on experience in counselling people, promoting fitness or developing wellness programs. A course in health and fitness promotion can help interested individuals in obtaining knowledge and skills necessary to build a career in this filed.

About Health and Fitness Training Programs in Canada

The two-year post-secondary health and fitness training programs in Canada are designed to meet the ever growing public demand for health and wellness counselling. The students are prepared for fulfilling careers assisting individuals and groups to reach their highest potential for overall well-being. They are exposed to the latest functional-fitness training principles.

The program is dedicated to help students build a strong foundation in health and wellness concepts, human physiology and biomechanics. They learn to assess fitness levels of individuals and develop fitness programs tailored to their individual needs.

In addition to this, the fitness programs offer them several hands-on learning opportunities at well constructed athletic and wellness centres located at the college campus and through industry partnerships that provide supervised field placements in the fitness industry.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for a health and fitness promotion program, students will need to submit secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent and one Science Grade 11 or 12 C or University or equivalent (physics, chemistry, biology or exercise science). After admission and before completion of the program, they are required to submit annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening and complete a recognized course in CPR and in Standard First Aid.

Choosing the Right College

Although a number of colleges in Canada offer post-secondary health and fitness courses but not all provide real-world work experience to students, which is an essential condition to seek employment. Centennial College's fitness and health promotion program is one of the most prestigious programs in the country. It offers students hands-on experience through on-campus field placement and industry field placement. In addition, students of this program also have the opportunity to become certified personal trainers according to the CSEP-CPT requirements and learn course material related to the canfitpro Personal Training Specialists certification.

Monday, May 26, 2014

Building a Career in Community Development in Canada

Community development work is both a task and a process. The task is to bring a social and economic change; and a process is the application social planning and collective decision making, while incorporating economics, politics, research and an understanding of task diversity.

Community is organic by nature and there is no single road map to ensure community development. It’s a gradual process that demands continuous effort and engagement from professionals who strive to enhance social and economic well-being of people living in various communities.

The core principles that community development workers should believe in are:
Respect - a respect for diversity
Participation - full participation of everyone including minority groups is important to bring a social change
Psychology - understanding of social psychology is important in order to plan how to bring a change
Sustenance - continuous effort is required to bring a sustainable social change
Planning - planning and policy making is required at every stage of community development
Communication - conveying the right message to the right audience at the right time and in the right manner is critical

The community development workers are expected to emotionally stable yet sensitive towards the issues, problems and sufferings of a community. With this, they need to have thorough understanding of society as a whole, social psychology, global perspectives in community development and legal regulations.

Building a Career in Community Development in Canada

Community work involves working together to plan, bring and sustain a change in the society, by exerting control over social, economical, religious and political issues. A community development program may lead prospective community development workers to the right path. The program is grounded on the principles of equality and fairness.

The program is geared towards helping students develop the necessary skills for
  • Building community capacity
  • Promoting sustainable community
  • Managing and directing community economic development initiatives
  • Planning and advocating for change strategies
  • Promoting social and economic justice
  • Challenging patterns of oppression and discrimination
The two-year post-secondary community development course covers a wide range of subjects, such as theoretical foundations in community development, sustainable community development, communication fundamentals, social psychology, community based research, community economic development, community engagement and participation, community development in action, community development policy, and business essentials.

The program combines classroom learning, placement seminar and two separate field placements in real-world settings. The field placement provides students an opportunity to put their acquired knowledge into practice and gain experience. Students are also provided opportunities for international development placements.

The graduates of this program can find employment with government, voluntary organizations, corporations and international community settings.

Enrolling in a Community Development Program

In order to enroll in a community development course, you will need:
  • Secondary school diploma or equivalent
  • English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent
Several colleges in Canada offer community development programs ; however, not all offer students industry exposure that is required to gain hands-on-experience. Centennial College's community development course lays strong emphasis on working in real-world settings. The industry exposure provides students experience and valuable contacts that can be used as references in future.

Information on Postgraduate Financial Planning Certification Program in Canada

A graduate certification program in financial planning is the right choice for those who are good with numbers and people and want to take up occupations in the financial sector. It is good for those who want to meet their personal financial goals, manage their assets and funds and advise people about investments, annual financial plans, and insurance decisions.

The one-year financial planning certification covers a wide range of subjects, helping students build a strong foundation in financial planning, tax planning, raising funds, managing assets, facilitating cost control, risk management, estate planning and credit management. The program also helps students prepare for CSC (Canada Security Course) exam. However, they are required to choose this option at the time of enrolling into the program.

They study in detail about various types of financial products and learn to compare them. It helps them in choosing the right product from the available ones. And if they consider pursuing careers in financial sector, they will be able to help their clients choose the right product that fulfills their specific needs.

The students of this program also learn
  • About various aspects of financial planning
  • To prepare relevant and accurate financial plans, manually and electronically
  • To adhere to financial planning principles and industry standards
  • To integrate ethical decision making processes into all aspects of financial planning profession
Career Prospects

The career prospects in this field are bright. Practically every company in financial sector needs knowledgeable and well-trained people who can provide financial counselling to their clients and sell their products. The graduates of this program can work as financial advisors, financial planners or personal finance consultants with banks, financial institutions, financial planning companies, insurance companies, mutual fund companies or investment dealers.

Not only this, they can also practice independently and advise people on financial planning, budget management, tax planning, retirement planning, estate planning and debt management. They can also sell financial products of different companies.

Further Education

For more advanced career opportunities, they can also become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). However, for this, they will have to write a CFP exam. The program also offers them eligibility to write exams for other courses such as Canada Security Course (CSC) and Wealth Management Essentials (WME).

Apart from this, they can also choose to pursue higher education in the field and apply their academic credits towards more advanced course in financial planning at the university. Centennial College has partnerships with universities and institutes.

What are the eligibility criteria to apply for this course?

In order to apply for a graduate-level financial planning program, interested candidates will need to submit a college diploma or university degree certificate in any discipline and a proof of English proficiency. Applicants with partial post-secondary students are eligible to apply for this program only if they are able to submit a transcript and a resume with relevant work experience. Apart from this, all applicants need to complete an assessment of numeracy skills given by the college. The applications can be directly sent to the college online, by mail or in person.

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Colleges in Toronto Give Students Rare Cultural and Educational Experience

Attending college is an exciting experience but it's made even more so for students who choose a Toronto-based post-secondary education. That's because this exciting city offers not only an educational experience but also a cultural one. Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, with 2.6 million residents in total. As such, students may meet and network with a wide range of professionals for all walks of life. Additionally, their education is supplemented by cultural events in the city. For example, if a student is attending an event planning program, he or she may benefit from taking part in the range of cultural festivals that occur in the city throughout the year.

There are principal campuses of four post-secondary colleges in Toronto, as well as the campus of one other Ontario college, scattered across the city in 29 campuses. The first community college to open in Ontario in 1966 also happens to be in Toronto. Known as Centennial College, it has spent the last 47 years transforming itself from a local school to a worldly institution with a presence in several emerging markets, including China, India, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. In fact, as a leader in internationalization, Centennial College has done extensive work teaching international students. Conversely, it is also enabling Canadian learners to have an international adventure by completing a semester in Spain, an internship in South Africa or a Global Citizenship learning experience in the Amazon Basin.

At the core of this college's philosophy is the belief that while students should be prepared to enter the workplace, they should be trained as leaders. As such, Centennial College offers industry-recognized full- and part-time programs at four Toronto campuses. These campuses are all specifically designed to cater to an array of schools of study, including: The School of Business, The School of Transportation, The School of Health and Community Studies, The School of Continuing Education, The School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, The School of Communications Media and Design; and The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture.

To further the philosophy of training leaders, this institution has worked to build lasting partnerships with local communities while preparing graduates to succeed in a global context and to offering students real world experiences. As such, many of the programs within this college include co-op, internship and field placement. While the specifics of these vary (some are paid, others unpaid; some take place just once during a program, others take place throughout the offering; some take place between semesters, others don't), this aspect not only allows students to apply what they have learned, but also to liaise with their superiors and fellow employees to enhance their resume and network of professionals.

As one of the most respected colleges in Toronto, 94 percent of employers hiring Centennial grads have told the college they are satisfied or very satisfied with their hires.

Bachelor Programs Offered at Centennial College Result in Respected Degrees

Post-secondary programs offer different credentials that are determined by the amount of time a student spends in a particular program. For example, the majority of college offerings last two or three years and result in a college diploma or an advanced college diploma, respectively. Meanwhile, university programs typically last four years and students are awarded with a Bachelor degree. Today, however, colleges are beginning to offer students degree undertakings that are typically reserved for university institutions.

While these degree programs take four years to complete, they offer a uniquely college experience. What does this mean? Firstly, because class sizes are smaller than those offered at university level, the four-year programs aren't just academically based. They also feature interactive features such as presentations, projects and classroom discussions that would not be possible in traditional university lectures of, for example, 500 people. Secondly, the small class sizes also allow students to interact regularly with their instructors. As such, instructors get to know students past their student number and submitted assignments. Students benefit by having real conversations about their future goals that instructors can help them to achieve through networking with professionals and other means. Thirdly, attending a bachelor program at college level saves students money, as tuition is notoriously less expensive than that of university offerings.

Centennial College in Toronto is one of the post-secondary institutions now offering degree programs. It currently facilitates four such undertakings, three in the School of Engineering, Technology and Applied Science and the other in the School of Communication, Media and Design.

In the School of Engineering Technology and Design, students can attend Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences - Computer and Communication Networks, Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences - Software Systems Design, and Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences - Bridging to Software Systems Design. The latter two are essentially the same offering, which boasts a unique focus on system design, a blend of technology and business subjects as well as industry placement. It also provides specialization in mobile application development or service-oriented architecture and cloud computing. The program places emphasis on advanced software standards and management. However, the Bridging option allows computer program/analyst graduates or software engineering graduates from Centennial or from a similar program from another college to join the program in the fifth semester. As such, these students may be eligible to obtain this four-year Bachelor of Applied Information Sciences in Software System Design (SSD) in two years.

The final Bachelor program offering at Centennial College is Public Relations Management. Through theoretical and applied learning in and out of the classroom, including completion of real world projects, it teaches students public relations, corporate communications and social media as a tool for managing both. To balance their training, students attend ten core business courses offered in partnership with Centennial's School of Business.

Friday, May 23, 2014

Music Education Programs in Canada

The college-level Music Industry Arts and Performance programs in Toronto offer students a unique opportunity to hone their natural talent and turn their passion for music into sustainable careers. These music education programs prepare them for diverse music related careers, such as singing and performance, music promotion, music composition, production, merchandising and music management and marketing.

The three-year music programs Toronto offer a number of unique benefits, such as:
  • Focus on popular music, indigenous music and world music
  • Hands-on approach in state-of-the-art facilities
  • Focus on various aspects of music, such as creation, performance, technology and business
  • Field placements in real world settings
Enrolling into a music composition program is one of the best ways to get into the Canadian music industry. The program curriculum helps them
  • Nurture their creativity and musicality
  • Raise awareness of a variety of music cultures
  • Develop business and entrepreneurial skills
  • Gain knowledge in music-related technologies
  • Become culturally aware musicians
  • Learn to make money with music
  • Prepare to work in diverse areas in music industry
However, not all music schools Toronto offer these benefits. Students interested in building a career in music industry should conduct a thorough research before enrolling in a particular program. Most programs do not offer internship opportunities and industry placements upon course completion.

A music college Toronto is worth considering if it
  • Offers the right blend of creative, contextual, technological and business courses
  • Offers students the much required industry exposure
  • Prepares students for the ever evolving music industry
  • Helps students find a suitable role in music industry, by identifying their talent
  • Offers opportunities to perform live
  • Helps students get to the right music industry segment
  • Provides them with an in-depth understanding of diverse career paths that a music industry offers
Centennial College's three-year post-secondary program in Music Industry Arts and Performance fulfills all these criteria and is therefore, considered as one of the most prestigious programs in the country. The program prepares students for a wide variety of music-related careers.

Program Content

The music program covers a wide range of subjects, including popular music in culture, musical theory and creativity, music technology, digital music creation, music business fundamentals, audio engineering, musical entrepreneurship, music creations for media, live sound engineering, recording studio environments, sound mixing and editing, copyright, loyalties, licensing and publishing, music marketing and social media, computer systems and music, artist management and promotion, music supervision and consulting and music journalism.

The program covers all aspects of music industry arts and business. In the sixth semester, a six-week work placement is provided, enabling students gain hands-on experience in the real world. Interested candidates can submit their applications along with the required supporting to the college by mail, online or in person. Candidates who have completed their secondary school diploma and are proficient in English are eligible to apply for this program. With this, they need to attend a mandatory program admission session where they will audition on a primary instrument or voice. They are also required to complete an evaluation of Music Theory Knowledge and a questionnaire about their music background and training.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Building a Career in Recreation and Leisure Services in Canada

A program in recreation and leisure management can be your ticket to the exciting and growing recreation and leisure services industry. You will work with diverse populations in different settings, such as corporate, institutional and community.

Being a part of this industry that promotes health, fun and an active lifestyle among the people of all ages and backgrounds requires you to have attained critical practical skills and a thorough understanding about wellness, culture and heritage and recreation. You must be aware of and make use of various approaches to wellness, in order to promote good health, emotional wellbeing and an active lifestyle.

The recreation and leisure services industry has evolved to a great extent in the past few years and so have expanded the role and responsibilities of the professionals employed in this industry. While on the job, you may also be expected to develop, plan and establish programs, market activities, prepare budgets, recruit and train volunteers, generate revenue for special events and services, design and implement planning strategies and apply administration skills.

You may also have to deal with the people and encourage them to enroll themselves into recreation and leisure activities. You are expected to play multiple roles, including counsellors, group facilitators, teachers, leaders, referral workers, coaches, outreach workers and advocates.

A recreation and leisure management course can help you gain the knowledge and skills required to become a part of this industry. In fact, it is now considered as the minimum qualification that is required to seek entry level jobs in recreation and leisure services industry. As people are becoming more health conscious and look forward to expert advice in order to bring positive changes in their lifestyles, it's important for professionals to have a well rounded knowledge and critical practical skills to guide them in the right direction.

Recreation Management Courses in Canada

Numerous Canadian colleges offer post-secondary recreation management courses in Canada. However, it's important for students to carefully choose their college and program. Not all programs incorporate industry field placements, which are essential to gain practical experience and later on seek employment in this field. Centennial College's two-year program incorporates four field placements, one in each semester, along with classroom lectures, two assignments and supplemental training in CPR "C" Standard First Aid, AED, Snoezelen, Food Handlers, and High Five (Principles of Healthy Child Development). The college also allows program graduates to apply their academic rewards towards obtaining a recreation management degree at the university.

Program Content

The students of this program are provided with a strong foundation in theories of recreation, gerontology and wellness, group dynamics, child and youth development, therapeutic recreation, healthy lifestyle management, community development, festivals and event management, and recreation management and marketing. A strong emphasis is laid on computer education, report writing for leisure and recreation services, and career development skills. In each semester, the students are provided with field placements, where they can put their classroom learning into practice.

Interested students can directly send their applications to the college along with a copy of secondary school diploma certificate, and scores in English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Breaking into Publishing Industry - Tips for Aspiring Book and Magazine Publishers

Considering a career in publishing industry in current times when almost everyone seems to be a content churner is a bit risky. On the top of it, rapid technological advancements and economic upheavals make it more difficult to survive in today’s highly competitive market. However, there is something special about being involved in the creation, editing, designing, publishing or marketing of books and magazines that encourages people to adopt this as a profession and continue to come with innovative ideas to create and present content.

While everyone is familiar with the fact that one has to be immensely creative and imaginative to conceptualize the idea and turn it into a book, it is equally important to nurture this natural talent of storytelling and learn the technical aspects of publishing. This is essential, especially in current times, to survive, sustain and grow. Another important consideration is that electronic media is gradually taking over print media and is fast becoming the preferred mode of content consumption. This is because of the convenience associated with it. So, to break into publishing industry, it is important to have an in-depth understanding of how electronic media works and what it takes to produce content for it.

How to Break into Publishing Industry?

Although no formal education is required to create a book or write for magazines but this limits your career options. A course in book and magazine publishing opens doors to several career opportunities in both print and electronic media. It covers all facets of the publishing process for both paper and e-books, preparing you for careers in book or magazine writing, editing, content management, copyrighting and marketing management.

Centennial College's postgraduate magazine publishing is a rigorous program that provides you with the knowledge and skills required to work in publishing industry in just one year. This is an award-winning program that has earned several accolades for academic success and career success of its graduates.

The first step towards building a career in publishing industry is to enroll in this program and hone your skills. The next step is to complement your formal education with practical experience. The college has its own press, which is a commercial publication operation provides students with ample opportunities to publish e-books and paper books and magazines.

The college also provides you with an industry field placement with a book or magazine publisher where you can gain experience working in a real world setting. You also gain valuable industry contacts that can be used as references in future while looking for employment upon graduation.

The program prepares students for entry-level jobs in publishing industry. Those who wish to seek more advanced career opportunities may consider upgrading their knowledge by applying their credit rewards towards further study at associated universities.

Enrolment Guide

As this is a postgraduate course, individuals with post-secondary education are eligible to apply for book publishing. Graduates with a college diploma or university degree in any discipline can send their applications along with a copy of graduation certificate, a portfolio of writing and a resume.

Individuals with partial post-secondary education (minimum two years) and relevant work experience can also apply for this program. All applicants are required to complete an editing exercise.

Pre Health Program Is Precursor to Further Educational Success

Have you completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older)? Did you obtain your English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent or are willing to take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission? Have you finished Mathematics Grade 11 or 12 C, M or U, or equivalent or are willing to take a Centennial College Math Skills Assessment for Admission? Additionally, does one of the following apply to you?

You have an interest in:
  • Attending programs that include Practical Nursing, Massage Therapy, Transportation and others;
  • Attending a science program at college level that will help you to achieve future career goal;
  • Obtaining the mandatory academic admission credentials needed to enter college-level science programs;
  • Completing science courses required for post-secondary programs and have not finished high school or completed science courses

If so, Centennial College's Pre Health program may be well suited for you. The purpose of this overview offering is to ensure that students have a solid foundation in topics associated with health fields such as the ones described above.

While other Pre Health programs may focus on one area, this offering is all encompassing and includes a range of courses that give students the know-how they need to successfully pursue further education. Here is a closer look at the topics that students study in this offering:

Computer For Health Care Professionals: Word processing, spreadsheets and presentation applications in a Windows-based operating system are all a part of this course. Students also develop skills related to basic research technique and APA reference format. To test their knowledge, students complete a final project that requires them to apply computer skills, research techniques and data analysis tools to prepare a properly referenced health-care related research report.

Pre-Anatomy and Physiology: This course's focus is on ensuring students have a strong foundation in anatomical terminologies and fundamental human physiology. Emphasis is on understanding and applications rather than memorization.

Developmental Psychology: The stages of human growth from conception to death; human development from a biological, psychological and sociocultural perspective are explored; research methods and major psychological theories underlying human development are all covered in this course.

Chemistry 1 and 2: Presented as two courses, the first gives students an overview by examining the role of chemistry in daily life and in the development of new technologies and products. The second, meanwhile, builds upon the concepts that form the basis of modern chemistry and applies them to the stoichiometry of chemical reactions. Students learn to solve problems involving stoichiometric relationships in balanced chemical equations.

Students who complete the Pre-Health science program and wish to continue their education at Centennial College may do so by seamlessly transferring to Practical Nursing, Massage Therapy, Transportation and other programs, granted that they have acceptable academic standing.

General Arts and Science Programs in Canada

Post-secondary education is a decisive factor that plays a critical role in shaping your career. You may want to learn more about available college certifications and diploma and degree programs before you decide to enroll in a particular program. There may be another situation when you already know whether you want to study social sciences or humanities in college but do not fulfill eligibility criteria for that particular course.

What is the way out? Well, if you're stuck in either of the above mentioned situations, you may consider enrolling in a general arts and science program at Centennial College Toronto. This one-year arts program will help you in:
  • Exploring available options in the desired field of study
  • Obtaining eligibility criteria for the social sciences, humanities or tourism courses
  • Upgrading your academic skills
  • Earning credits towards the program of your choice
  • Learning about various arts degree Toronto programs

What can you expect from the course?

With General Arts and Science program, you can expect to build solid foundations in math in digital age, concepts in social sciences and humanities, principles of sociology, developmental psychology, human genomics, twentieth century history, communications, contemporary Canada – places, people and perspectives and logical self-defense.

The program is delivered by highly qualified and experienced faculty members. They guide and help you in exploring your career options and choosing the right program that suits your interests and career goals. It's more like a preparatory program that prepares you for a full-fledged and specialized college program.

Apart from this, you also gain perspective of the Canadian working environment and what industry expects from graduates. This helps you align your interests and career goals with industry expectations. You also explore the range of career options that various industries, including tourism, hospitality, and community service and child studies offer.

The Centennial Difference

Well, a number of Canadian colleges offer General Arts and Sciences programs. But Centennial College Toronto offers unique benefits to its students, which include:
  • Individual attention
  • Supportive learning environment
  • Flexibility to explore programs and career options
  • Individualized educational support
  • Opportunities to directly enroll in general arts and sciences program of your choice

Admission Prerequisites

Students who have completed their post-secondary education are eligible to apply for this program. They may send their applications online, in person or via mail, along with required documents, such as mature students status or secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. Those who don't meet language proficiency requirements will need to take college's English Skills Assessment for admission.

Once they send their applications to the college, they need to notify their guidance counsellor that they have applied to the course. If college needs any additional documents to confirm their eligibility, they will be responsible for requesting their educational institutes to send the required transcripts to the college.

International students interested in applying to this course must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency before submitting their applications. Their applications will be denied if they fail to do so.