Becoming a Media Engineering Professional in Canada

The way we learn, play, work and communicate is continuously changing. Thanks to the rapid innovations in mobile communications, interactive systems, and computer and internet technologies. Media systems design or media engineering design integration is a rapidly emerging field that is not only responsible for enhancing the experience of technology users but is also extending a lot of new and innovative career opportunities to professionals.

The media engineering professionals are technologists, designers, content producers, user experience designers, software programmers and technical producers who create new applications and products for media marketplace. They are responsible for conceptualizing, designing, developing and distributing highly interactive communication, business, and education, networking and entertainment applications.

The demand for media engineering professionals is higher than ever. This is because a major chunk of population nowadays relies on smart phones, tablets and other smart devices for their entertainment, information and business needs. The demand is expected to increase further in the coming years.

However, the competition in the job market remains fierce despite increasing job opportunities. Employers prefer to pick the best resources who are not only technically sound but also understand the psychology of modern customers. They are keen on hiring resources who are pro-active and can help them stay ahead of the competition.

Becoming a Media Engineering Professional

Aspiring media engineering professionals are expected to

• Possess a balanced set of design and programming skills
• Lead teams of technologists and media producers
• Conceptualize new media applications
• Have genuine understanding of both the disciplines, including media production and engineering technology
• Be able to execute a media technology project
• Have strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Have hands-on experience in creation and distribution of digital media
  
  

A media education program may help aspiring professionals gain all these skills and abilities, in order to enter the world of work. It covers application development for traditional and wireless devices, content production for different media, digital signage systems and networks and retail installations.

The program offers a unique blend of theoretical education and hands-on experience. It covers a wide selection of subjects, including media engineering, sound design and video production, visual design, computer systems and networks, design for web and mobile devices, media electronics, math and electrical fundamentals, software programming, computer systems and networks, physical computing, automated control systems, media system engineering, product development and entrepreneurship, content management and media informatics.

Eligibility Criteria

College or university graduates in engineering, technology or media can apply for this course. They need to send their applications to the college along with a copy of college diploma or university degree certificate, a portfolio of previous work, a letter of intent and an updated resume. Applicants with minimum two years of university education and work experience relevant to this field can also apply for this course.

Where to Study Media Engineering Program in Canada?

A number of Canadian colleges offer graduate certificate media studies courses. Unfortunately, not all offer students with opportunities to work in real-life settings. Centennial College Toronto provides students with a 15-week industry field placement at a media technology company or interactive design firm. Apart from this, the college offers students laboratory experience in PLC, robotics, sensors, electronics and network technology project management. They also participate in several individual and team projects.

Building a Career in Entertainment and Media Systems Design in Canada

A large number of job opportunities are available for media professionals in the new world of ubiquitous computing. Media producers, publishers and media technology developers are keen on hiring project coordinators, digital media producers, interactive technical producers, software programmers, user experience designers, digital signage networks content producers and exhibit designers.

Education Prerequisites

The professionals must have undergone specialized education and possess relevant hands-on experience in the creation and distribution of video and audio projects for environmental installations and mobile networks.

In addition to this, employers expect these media professionals to be well-versed in digital content creation, developing applications for wireless devices, produce and manage other innovative media products. They are also expected to possess a sound knowledge of robotics, programmable logic controllers, electronics, sensors, media analytics and network technology.

Although the job opportunities for media professionals are brighter than ever but job market has also grown more competitive than before. Those interested in working in fields related to digital content creation and production must develop a set of design skills and capabilities in media production and media engineering and should be able to lead collaborative teams of technologists.

Other Requirements

In addition to formal education and hands-on experience, the professionals must possess sound analytical, decision making, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. They are also expected to have strong communication and interpersonal skills along with an ability to assess, develop, manage and execute a media technology project.

Media Education Programs in Canada

Several Canadian colleges offer postgraduate media studies courses to students. However, not all may offer them required exposure and hands-on experience, which is essential for seeking employment post graduation.

Centennial College’s entertainment and media systems design is considered as one of the most prestigious media education program in the country. This is because the program provides students with a project-based learning environment that focuses on analytical and decision making skills on real world challenges. It offers students much required hands-on lab and a 15-week industry field placement at a media technology company or interactive design firm.

The one-year graduate certificate program covers a wide range of subjects, including media engineering, video production and sound design, visual design, design for web and mobile devices, media electronics, computer systems and networks, software programming fundamentals, physical computing, product development, automated control systems, web programming, media informatics, content management and portfolio production.

Students of this program are required to participate in team and individual projects guided and assessed by industry entrepreneurs. This helps them put their learning into practice and gain industry contacts that can be used as references at the time of finding employment after the completion of the program.

Enrolling in a Media Education Program

Interested students need to submit an application form along with a university degree or college diploma certificate in a field related to engineering, technology or media. Candidates with partial post-secondary education (minimum two-years at the university) with relevant work experience in a media related field are also considered for the program. In addition to this, all applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work, an updated resume and a letter of intent at the time of submitting the application.

Media studies mixed with engineering technology creates new hybrid program

Where will you go, if you want a long-lasting career in the competitive media industry? Being technologically savvy is a good start, but having the design production knowledge and engineering skills can strengthen portfolio and welcome you to a wide array of opportunities. One college is offering a unique hybrid program, combining of media studies courses in Canada and engineering. The Entertainment and Media Systems Design (3420) program at Centennial College is a three-semester postgraduate program with a field placement at the end of the year.

The program was formed in collaboration with the School of Communication, Media and Design and the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, with foresight of increasing demand for positions in the media engineering field. Centennial Professor Doug Pringle estimates that it will take a very skilled professional of about 10 year of experience in engineering, production or both to work in the roles required by many media companies. He says:

"When you go to a large media company, you’re dealing with  different media and they have teams of people with engineering skills, software skills, networking skills, and content creators…each one has their own specific skill set but who’s pulling it all together?”

Centennial is helping with the job creation by producing competent graduates with technical background in media design. The result is the creation of this media education program, requiring students to have previous experience or knowledge in a related field. Applications are open for the Fall 2014 enrolment with the following requirements:

• Completion of a university degree or college diploma in a relevant engineering, technology or media program
• Partial education, with minimum of two years in university, may be accepted along with substantial work experience in the similar field of studies
• A portfolio containing various design work, showing your capabilities in media engineering
• A resume, regardless if you have or do not have work experience in this field
• A letter of intent, declaring your commitment to the program
• Attendance in the mandatory program admission session

The program is filled with training exercises where students get to experience the learning hands-on. From programming to content management to media systems, students advance with guidance from qualified faculty members. Centennial provides high quality of learning for its students and they gain plenty of benefits by entering this program:

• A sustainable career outlook in the media industry
• In-demand jobs with high-paying salaries and opportunities for growth
• Various job opportunities available, such as Interactive Technical Producer, Software programmer, and User experience designer
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders, where students also get to display their work and gain feedback on their progress
• A 15-week field placement at a media technology company or design firm, where students gain on-the-job experience and possible leads to career opportunities
  

The Entertainment and Media Systems Design program at Centennial College unleashes your potential in design and engineering, with the help of this new and exciting program. With many career possibilities in the media industry, graduates have established themselves as software engineers and content producers across different workplace settings.

Postgraduate Media Studies Courses in Canada: Benefits and Admission Requirements

A postgraduate program in media engineering design integration can supply you with a balanced set of design knowledge, skills and capabilities required in media production and media engineering. It trains graduates to work with and lead cross-functional teams of technologists and media producers creating new applications for the media marketplace.

The program in media studies is a unique and hybrid program that focuses on the designing, production and management of innovative media products. The one-year certificate program aims to help students become well-versed in

• Application development for wireless devices
• Content creation
• Interactive museum and retail installations
• Digital signage systems and networks
  
  

In addition, a strong emphasis is laid on developing

• Analytical and decision-making skills
• Ability to assess, develop, manage and execute a media technology project
• Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills
• Leadership skills to manage and guide cross-functional teams
  
  

Centennial College’s one-year postgraduate media studies courses cover a wide range of subjects, including:

• Video production and sound design
• Visual design
• Design for web and mobile devices
• Math and electrical fundamentals
• Media electronics
• Computer systems and networks
• Programming fundamentals
• Physical computing
• Entrepreneurship and product development
• Media system engineering
• Automated control systems
• Web programming
• Media informatics/information metrics
• Content management
• Portfolio production
  
  

The program combines

• Classroom learning
• Team and individual projects guided and assessed by industry entrepreneurs
• Hands-on lab in Programmable Logic Controller, robotics, sensors, electronics, media analytics and network technology project management
• Hands-on-experience in the creation and distribution of digital media, video and audio projects for mobile networks and environmental installations
• A 15-week industry placement at an interactive design firm or media technology company
  
  

Benefits of Media Education

The postgraduate in Centennial’s media education program offers graduates a number of benefits. They

• Develop skills and capabilities to work with up-to-date methods of media production
• Enhance their core strengths in engineering technology and media production
• Get essential experience of working with cross-functional teams
• Develop skills and flexibility to lead hybrid teams and develop new solutions
• Gain ability to face real world challenges and develop innovative solutions to overcome them
  
  

The graduates of this program can work as project coordinators, digital media producers, interactive technical producers, exhibit designers, and producers – digital signage networks content, user experience designers and software programmers.  The professionals can find employment with media producers, publishers and media technology developers. The typical work activities may include:

• Assigning tasks to the teams of technologists
• Providing direction and guidance
• Project management
• Developing and implementing project plan and design specifications
• Overseeing information architecture
• Coordinating work efforts across software development, creative design and production teams
  
  

However, the job responsibilities may vary widely depending upon the employment, job title and individual qualifications, skills and capabilities and work experience.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for a postgraduate certificate program in entertainment and media systems design, applicants will need:

• University degree or college diploma in a discipline related to engineering, technology or media
• Minimum two years university education and relevant work experience (for applicants with partial post-secondary education)
• A portfolio of work and/or project
• Latest resume
• Letter of intent