Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion Program Geared Towards Mature Applicants

“Returning to school in the Workplace Wellness Health Promotion program in Toronto, after 25 years experience as a nurse, was the perfect choice for me,” says 2009 Centennial College graduate Amy Langer. “It gave me the skills to take my career to the next level, with formal training in how to integrate wellness, health promotion and program planning.” Amy’s testimonial shows how Centennial College’s offering benefits mature students who already have a post-secondary credentials or experience in the health field. Let’s take a look at specific benefits of the Wellness and Health Promotion program at this school.

First and foremost, the undertaking only takes two semesters to complete and students are fully prepared to enter the field thanks to a range of skills that include: assessing the wellness needs of individuals, groups, organizations and communities; designing, implementing, evaluating and managing effective individual and agency intervention strategies and wellness programs to achieve goals mutually determined through consultation; analyzing the trends and issues in the political, social and economic environment and effectively delivering contemporary health and wellness programs that address these factors; providing appropriate referral information to assist individuals, groups and organizations; applying research design and methods to workplace wellness and health promotion projects; and more.

Secondly, students learn in an environment that takes into account their mature status. As such, program content includes: program planning, program management, physical health, mental health management, nutrition, health promotion theory, organizational development, environmental health coaching, research and business skills. This Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion program curriculum is taught to students by experienced professionals who are well versed in psychosocial and physical health issues, and also emphasize management, nutrition and health promotion theory, a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach, mental health management, environmental health and more.

Thirdly, offered are real-world components that will allow students to experience what they may encounter in the field. Among these practical applications are: designing promotional materials for mini-fairs and health awareness events and partaking in a two-day-per-week in a work placement at locations such as Health Systems Group, Ministry of Education, Mt. Sinai Hospital, The Cooperators, Toronto District School Board, York University, Variety Village, Ontario March of Dimes and more. To partake in the work placement component, students must have an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening; successful completion and annual renewal of a recognized course in CPR (Health Care Provider level) and successful completion of a recognized course in Standard First Aid.

Once students of the Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion program graduate, they may continue on at their placements or find jobs in corporate employee wellness, community health promotion and not-for-profit organizations. They may also enter wellness entrepreneur positions like wellness coordinator, health promotion consultant or program manager.

Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion program applicants must have completed a college advanced diploma (three-year), or university degree in any discipline as well as be able to demonstrate English.

Healthcare Management Program Ensures Preparation Through Theory and Practice

In today’s world, we are faced with evolving strains of viruses and other such medical threats, and the most vulnerable to both are the workers and patients in healthcare settings. Therefore, there is an increased need for infection control measures such settings. That’s where professionals who have completed a healthcare management degree or diploma program come in. These people, known as environmental service managers, are responsible for developing systems and processes to protect workers, clients and patients from environmental hazards present in the healthcare setting and operate buildings that are safe. As such, they must be comfortable not only with developing, implementing and monitoring operating systems but also thinking critically, problem solving, working with a diverse team and adapting to change.

Centennial College’s healthcare management program in toronto, officially known as Healthcare Environmental Services Management, combines healthcare environmental service knowledge with business and human relations skills to prepare students for challenging careers. Applicants to this offering must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature status (19 years or older); English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent and; and Math 11M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent. Please note that there are also particular field placement requirements after admission but prior to each healthcare management program field placement.

Once accepted, students begin two-year’s worth of healthcare management program courses at Morningside Campus, which is the school’s most technologically advanced location. As such, it is fully equipped to enhance the learning of the healthcare management program students who attend courses in large, industry-specific laboratories and computer labs with industry-specific software. Also assisting students in their studies are tools such as simulated real life scenarios, field trips and guest speaker presentations. Finally, there are two field placements (one in second semester and one in fourth semester), which allow students to not only experience the field prior to graduation but also to apply what they have learned, which leads to better comprehension in how to manage these positions once they graduate.

In terms of the curriculum, the healthcare management program offers 25 courses that develop a variety of skills, including: analyzing infection prevention and control practices to ensure compliance with current legislation standards and regulations; managing the healthcare environmental services operations as outlined by the departmental/organizational business plan; contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of the recruitment, orientation, training, development and retention programs for healthcare environmental services employees; developing and evaluate a departmental budget that reflects fiscal accountability and financial planning; and much more. Specific topics covered in these healthcare management program courses include: cleaning linen and methodology, the healthcare systems, infection control, math application for environmental services, purchasing and materials management, healthcare business practices, cost analysis and more.

Healthcare management program grads obtain jobs with hospitals and other clinical settings (nursing homes, and retirement homes as well as commercial buildings, schools and residential buildings) that see them develop systems, processes and increase infection control measures to protect people from hazards present in healthcare settings.

The Practical Nature of Heritage Management Courses

After attending two semester’s worth of heritage management courses at Centennial College’s Culture and Heritage Site Management program, students are able to apply for work at local, national, cross border, and possibly international organizations. What’s even cooler is that among these organizations are: national historic sites, municipal and not-for-profit museums, galleries, national and provincial parks, historic sites, zoos, world heritage sites; federal, provincial and municipal cultural funding agencies, government departments, arts service organizations; and related not-for-profit arts, cultural and heritage organizations. More specifically, Canada has 2,500 museums and related institutions that include not-for-profit museums, art galleries, science centres, aquaria, archives, sports halls-of-fame, artist-run centres, zoos, and heritage sites that attract more than 59 million visitors annually; a further 60 million visit Canada’s historic sites and natural parks.

The reason grads of Centennial College’s heritage management courses are able to find employment in such a variety of workplaces is because the curriculum covers such a wide range of topics that engage students in practical management topics as well as industry-based subjects relevant to this largely publicly run or not-for-profit culture and heritage sector. All Centennial College heritage management courses also ensure that students pursue an in-depth exploration of issues and cases pertinent to current challenges confronting cultural and heritage organizations at home and abroad. Among the specific heritage management courses are: Culture and Heritage Management Essentials, Financial Management and Planning for the Culture and Heritage Sector, Culture and Heritage Marketing and Strategy; Grants, Fundraising and Sponsorship, Innovative Technologies in the Culture and Heritage Sector, National Historic Site Management and more.

Additionally, to supplement culture courses and heritage management courses, partnerships with local, regional, provincial and national institutions and establishments facilitate in-session learner field placements during the second semester. The two-day-per-week, 15-week field placement is an opportunity for those taking culture courses and heritage management courses to apply what they have learned as well as work side by side with industry professionals currently practicing their art.

The culture course in this program are geared at mature students who, during the application process, must be able to prove they have already obtained a college diploma or university degree in any discipline. Applicants are also required to submit a resume with relevant work experience. The Culture and Heritage Site Management program will, however, consider applicants with partial post secondary education and relevant work experience in the field.

Hospitality Services Trains You For Range of Careers Options

Did you know that by attending Centennial College’s Hospitality Services not only can you find work at establishments such as Travel Lodge, Boston Pizza, Chartwells, Swiss Chalet, Shoeless Joe’s, Moxie’s and Kelsey’s but at each of these establishments you may apply for various positions? That’s because this two-semester program results in students having the know-how to work in food and beverage services, kitchen operations, housekeeping and front office. As former student of Hospitality Services Ejikeme Ehirim sums up, “The Hospitality Services program consists of learning about hotels and restaurants. The focus is put on food and beverage services, sanitation, life skills and job readiness. This experience has taught me about time management skills and resourcefulness.”

To apply for this Hospitality Services program, you are required to have completed minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older). It is worth noting that Centennial College recommends Hospitality Services as an option for individuals who have completed Grade 12 Workplace level English.

As a student attending this program’s hospitality courses, you will have the advantage of a balance between theory and hands-on industry experience that is gained through the on-campus training restaurant laboratory, off-campus experiences and lectures. On the theoretical side, the hospitality courses cover topics such as visitor information services, safety and sanitation, room attendant, kitchen and dining room operations, life skills and job readiness, front of the house agent, beverage services and more. In addition, the Hospitality Services program ensures that you obtain know-how in job-seeking techniques, and job interview and resume skills to give you a better chance of obtaining a job directly after graduation.

Meanwhile, the practical side of Hospitality Services consists of the use of Progress Campus, which is home to all School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culture courses. As such, you will have access to a conference centre at which functions are held and a real-life restaurant called Horizons where you can further develop food and beverage skills. In addition, the Hospitality Services program features a work placement component. When you head out into the field for this feature, you will spend two days a week working at a restaurant or hotel, applying what you have learned and obtaining new skills from seasoned professionals. This Hospitality Services field placement can also be used as a networking opportunity.

Once you complete your Hospitality Services program, you will obtain an Ontario College Certificate, and have the opportunity to complete certification exams in Sanitation and Beverage Services. And, although you will be job ready, the Hospitality Services program also allows you to further your education by transferring to one of Centennial College’s more specialized hospitality management programs.

Tourism Management Courses Offer Students Know-How For Increasingly Popular Field

Those who attend Tourism Management Courses are now more in demand than ever. That’s because although culture has always been a part of travel, now more than ever travelers are looking to experience cultural and heritage tourism. The National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States defines heritage tourism as “travelling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past,” and cultural heritage tourism is defined as “travelling to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”

Centennial College’s Tourism Management – Cultural and Heritage Tourism is a post-secondary program that offers students the know-how they need to enter managerial positions within this area of the tourism industry. Although there are various roles for those who graduate from Tourism Management programs, all grads have the know-how to help clients choose destinations or sites to visit on vacation, create activity packages, arrange tickets, transportation and more.

The skills to carry out these duties are taught through Tourism Management courses that integrate the challenges facing culture and heritage sector managers with the operative requisites commanded by the tourism industry. This methodology mirrors the convergence of culture, heritage and tourism. Specific Tourism Management courses in which students partake include: Responsible Tourism, World Geography for Tourism, Dimensions of Tourism, Cultural & Heritage Tourism Principles and Practices, Cross-Cultural Behaviour in Tourism and many others. As student Natalie Buckley tells it, “I would say my favourite course I’m actually doing right now is Cross-Cultural Behaviour where we’re talking about not just different cultures throughout the world, but we’re talking about how they behave and how they react to each other...”

Students like Natalie not only benefit from their Tourism Management courses but also from real-world experience gained during a work placement. This feature is an opportunity to apply classroom theory to the real-life situations, add another career educational dimension to students’ career preparation, better understand the dynamics of the industry, increase their knowledge of industry practices and it provides a competitive advantage of experience in the job market.

Once they complete their Tourism Management courses, students also have the option to further their education through the school’s partnerships. Eligible grads may participate in an articulated tourism management program with selected universities, institutes and professional associations. This tourism management program’s partners are: Athabasca University, International Hotel Management Institute (Switzerland), Vancouver Island University, University of New Brunswick and Royal Roads University (B.C.).

Tourism management program applicants must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is a compulsory English 12C or U skills assessment, or equivalent.