Lifelong learning at the heart of UCalgary Continuing Education

When Arlene Casta Rafael first moved to Canada, she thought her professional journey wouldn’t be all that complicated.

A showroom designer in the Philippines, Rafael immediately started looking for similar roles, but quickly found she was missing some key credentials.

Instead of working where her passions were, the mother of two took on a pair of retail jobs to keep a roof over her young family’s heads. However, Rafael grew increasingly tired and overwhelmed about where her new life in Canada had led.

She started looking for ways to get the qualifications needed to get back into interior design and happened upon Continuing Education at the University of Calgary.

“I wanted to do something for myself — to better myself,” Rafael says. “I decided to take on a new journey that will give me a platform to grow and develop myself, not just as a mother, but as a woman through education.”

She enrolled in her first course in 2018 and is one of the many graduates singing the praises of a program that has been a centrepiece of UCalgary from its beginning.

A staple from UCalgary’s early days

Established in 1965, one year before UCalgary gained autonomy from the University of Alberta, the Division of Continuing Education was formed.

Its mandate was simple: bring the university’s resources within the reach of as many Albertans as possible through evening, summer and other special programs.

Within a year, it was offering more than 100 full and half courses in arts, science, education and physical education, among others.

As community needs have evolved, so have the offerings of Continuing Education, including the university’s first English as a Second Language (ESL) program in 1978 and the first Master of Continuing Education program specializing in workplace learning in 1994.

The ability to reach more students has also increased dramatically thanks to the technological evolution, including the first teleconference-offered course in 1995 and the first online course offered in 1999. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic made many realize they needed to upskill, and many turned to online courses like those offered by Continuing Education.

“We have started to see digital disruption impact all fields of our practice, which has significantly increased the demand for short-cycle training for mid-career professionals,” says Dr. Sheila LeBlanc, DBA, associate vice-president (Continuing Education). “These short-cycle training programs, or what is now often referred to as micro-credentials, have enabled learners to advance or stay current in their careers through upskilling or reskilling.”

More than 92 per cent of Continuing Education courses were offered online in the past year, up from nearly 25 per cent prior to the pandemic.

Work-school-life balance

By the time Rafael entered the Visual Design Certificate program in 2018, Continuing Education was deeply rooted in the online world.

She appreciated the flexibility and balance offered with in-class and online offerings to complement her busy home life.

Others, like Nygel Ryan, echo those sentiments.

A journeyman electrician for more than a decade, he saw an opportunity to level up his professional development and, working with his employer, enrolled in the Project Management Certificate program.

“It was a seamless transition from not going to school for quite a long time to being back in school and everything that brings,” Ryan says. “The night school really worked for my family dynamic.”

Both Rafael and Ryan say the availability of instructors and use of D2L, the online learning platform, made it easy to discuss learnings with classmates, watch webinar lectures, find course material and submit high-quality assignments.

Lifelong learning no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ luxury

From web design and construction management to human resources and leadership training, lifelong learning has remained a focal point for UCalgary Continuing Education from its beginning.

LeBlanc says it’s a necessity for institutional relevance and survival in an age where learners are seasoned consumers with high expectations.

“Lifelong learning is no longer a ‘nice-to-have,’” she says. “Institutions that can offer a seamless, agile and student-first experience across the learner-to-earner journey will be the ones that thrive.”

Nearly 60 years after offering a “What is a Computer?” course to introduce people to the concept of a computer, Continuing Education is now available locally and globally thanks to that same technology.

Graduates are forever grateful for the opportunities they have been afforded.

“I am working in the field that I love,” says Rafael. “I’m ready and I’m sure of what I’m doing. My education gives me an edge. I feel I can go out there as a professional now.”

Now working with a medical imaging company, Ryan is grateful for the learning opportunity which led to a promotion into a leadership role.

“This learning journey has changed my life,” he says. “The sky is the limit. The path has been shown to me and it’s up to me to take it.”

To celebrate its 60th anniversary, Continuing Education welcomed the community to an open house at UCalgary's Downtown campus in November. Continuing Education thanks everyone who stopped by to explore its current programs and courses, as well as a special media installation showcasing its history and impact, which is still on display at the campus.