Partnerships

It is not easy running a business, working hard to maintain and grow your organization, and finding professional development for your staff. But you don’t have to do all of it alone. University of Manitoba (UM) Extended Education’s Business Development team is working with companies and organizations from across the province to understand your needs and support you in providing further education, created with the expertise of the university, industry, and community.

In today’s competitive world, a strategic plan to support employee growth is not optional. To remain competitive and retain talent, you must invest in your employees with professional development. Professionals demand a good career and quality of life.

“If their employer is not offering professional development, employees will move on,” says Yvonne Kinley, Director of Business Development, UM Extended Education. “A workforce development plan is key.”

Investing in talent to build capacity

A workforce development plan considers the careers needed in the organization including their specific skills and competencies, and if current staff have them. It closes gaps. It asks what is missing and what is needed. The goals are to increase the skills and capacity of current staff, do succession planning, and attract new talent.

In addition to skills and training, professional development increases an employee’s confidence and enhances their impression of the organization and their commitment to its success.

“Most businesses have a workforce development plan, but the formality of it varies. Human Resource skills are needed to manage them,” says Kinley.

HR training

For those who would like to build this expertise in-house, she suggests UM Extended Education’s Certificate in Human Resource Management. Accredited by CPHR Manitoba, the program trains HR professionals and prepares them to apply for professional certification.

And when someone is preparing for promotion, you want to ensure you provide them with adequate training for their new role.

Management training

For managers, the Certificate in Applied Management (CAM) is one that can be customized to meet your needs, says Kinley. For example, a non-profit social services agency within the community was looking for management programming and found their answer with their own customized version of CAM.

UM certificates are long recognized as quality education in their industries, says Kinley. They go beyond short webinars and workshops, with deeper content offered in a flexible format, online from anywhere. Several also offer an applied learning component, for real-world industry experience.

Courses to develop skills and competencies

UM Extended Education courses offer targeted training and the opportunity to get started on a professional development journey or credential. With their newest addition, Understanding Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Practice, employees can apply what they learn to your workplace so everyone can thrive. They will prepare to challenge biased systems and practices to identify and remove barriers for all with this course.

Make technology work for you

With the Micro-certificate in Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning Solutions, employees learn how to work with data to solve your real-world problems in just three courses, no coding required.

Or with Digital Innovation and Leadership (DIAL), two programs are developing digital leaders to transform careers and organizations. Digital Transformation for Managers and Digital Transformation for Leaders are offered by DIAL founded by SFU’s Beedie School of Business, in partnership with University of Manitoba Extended Education.

Upskilling your staff ensures the economic resilience of your business, and the Manitoba and greater economies. “Our ability to attract business to the province also depends on achieving a skilled workforce. It’s important for existing business and to attract new investment,” says Kinley.

“We are reimagining engagement, making strong connections through partnerships. Our upskilling benefits your employees, your organization, and your greater community.”

Learn more about UM Extended Education partnership opportunities

As seen in the Winnipeg Free Press

Nnebuogor Frances Ikem, Applied Business Management

Nnebuogor Frances Ikem worked as a business analyst for Krysny Nigeria Ltd, a paint company. She studied philosophy, leadership and innovation in her native Nigeria and attended short programs in India. But she wanted more.

“I wanted to improve myself and get a proper certificate,” says the Applied Business Management grad. “My elder sister studied with Extended Education. She told me it was the right place for me to go to and the program was in line with what I was trying to do. UM is one of the top universities in the world. Their education standards are next to none.”

Her sister introduced her to the city and campus during the winter.

“It was the coldest place I had ever been. But I was super excited. I wrote my name in the snow. I love Winnipeg. The people are friendly and warm.”

Now she recommends Extended Education to everyone. “If you want to update the knowledge you already have, they give you all you need to study and learn more. They polished us so we came out better than the older version of ourselves.”

Her sister and nephew will attend grad with her. “I feel so proud of myself. So happy that I studied and got results. If you sit down and put your mind to something, you can achieve it.”

She is especially proud of completing accounting. “As someone who always ran from math, not the best student, I had never done accounting in my life. Initially I was scared. I had tutors. I did well. I was not left on my own. The school made it happen.”

Her Industry Placement as an administrative assistant at the Elizabeth Fry Society made her part of the team and provided insights and inspiration. “How they rekindle hope in young women and integrate them back into society, to believe in themselves, is amazing. They don’t judge. They treat everyone with respect. I learned about Indigenous culture. I will always cherish learning from them.”

Since she completed her studies, she says she misses the UM community and hopes to come back and do her Master’s in Business Administration.

Abdulrazak Yusuf, Extended Education grad

Abdulrazak Yusuf, Applied Business Analysis

Abdulrazak Yusuf celebrates his graduation from Applied Business Analysis.

In Nigeria, Yusuf had a bachelor’s degree in geography and social sciences, and experience with business process management and consulting. “I enjoy the people part of it, engaging with people across departments, looking at how processes run and making improvements.”

He found his Extended Education program while doing online research. “I was drawn to the richness of the course. It was not just business analysis but also communication, leadership, organizational change. Presentation skills were very, very useful. When presenting to stakeholders, the right skills are important.”

UM offered a lively community, he says. “The diversity was very engaging. I made friends across different countries and environments. Multiculturalism — meeting different people with different perspectives, really enriched my experience. There were a lot of activities. I became involved in volunteer programs through UM including Canadian Blood Services.”

Yusuf did his Industry Placement with U-Turn Parkinson’s.

“I want to work in healthcare. With this not-for-profit, I looked at data analytics and processes, to see how they run and find more capabilities within their existing business solutions.”

He learned about Winnipeg from a friend who had come here to take another program and was initially apprehensive about the winter weather. “I learned it was not about the weather. It was about dressing in the right clothing, having a good coat and boots from the beginning.”

While the weather takes some getting used to, he says, plans to bring his family to Winnipeg and make himself at home here. He recommends studying with Extended Education.

“It’s a remarkable achievement for me, graduating, and with good grades. My family is in Nigeria but my inlaws will attend with me.”

Baljot Kaur, Applied Human Resource Management

Baljot Kaur celebrates her graduation from Applied Human Resource Management.

Kaur earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and worked for a year as an HR consultant in India before coming here to study. Her family ran a business but she wanted to work in human resources.

Her cousin recommended the Extended Education program and had taken it previously. Her older brother also encouraged her to come to Winnipeg and to study HR at UM. He had come to Winnipeg earlier to do another certificate program.

“I am glad I am here and graduating from the University of Manitoba,” says Kaur. “It was a great experience. I got to know my instructors who helped me in a very good way. They teach in a manner that offers not just content but everything about what’s important for HR people and what happens in the world out there.”

In her HR studies, she appreciated learning about legislation, labour relations, HR planning, and interpersonal communication. “Every course is helping me.”

Completing her Industry Placement with Travel Manitoba, she learned about collective agreements, resumes, and how job descriptions are created. She also participated in the process of interviewing some candidates.

“Now I am actively looking for a full-time job, in an introductory HR position in a company in Winnipeg. I want to get started and get into a generalist position in the future.”

She highly recommends studying with Extended Education at the University of Manitoba. “The university environment is so different from my former college. There are so many activities and courses. And in Manitoba, there are definitely opportunities for new grads here.”

Learn more about Extended Education programs and courses

“We invite our students, alumni, instructors, industry professionals, and university colleagues to attend,” says Rod Lastra, Acting Dean, Extended Education. “It’s a great opportunity to network, build partnerships, and celebrate educational excellence. We are dedicated to shaping a brighter future for learners and educators alike.”

This is an inaugural event recognizing the connections between Extended Education as part of the greater University of Manitoba, and the community,” says Lastra. “UM has a long history of valued contributions to community and making an impact.”

The day begins with an afternoon Career Fair, where students and alumni will have the opportunity to network and connect with industry partners. Students will explore career prospects and partners will meet potential employees.

The evening begins with a cocktail and networking reception, followed by dinner and a program that celebrates achievement and presents awards to our outstanding students, instructors and industry partners.

Awards

Award categories for the evening:

Industry – Partnership Excellence Award, Industry Placement Host Award

Instructors – Instructor Excellence Award, Instructor Long Service Awards

Students – Dr. Ronald Kristjanson Memorial Scholarship, Dean’s Honour List

Extended Education is the division of UM that provides continuing education and pathways to degree studies.  Among the professional development credentials offered are certificates including Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning Solutions, and micro-certificates including Facilitating Older Adult Learning, and Media Literacy, Critical Thinking and Investigative Journalism.

“Continuing Education brings community together for the benefit of community. For me, the value of the CE unit is to ensure we maintain, sustain and acknowledge our relationships with our partners and learners. It’s not just about us. Many make a valued contribution to upskilling and reskilling, and that makes a difference.”

Buy your tickets

“With this event, Extended Education aims to inspire a passion for education and lifelong learning. We want our students, instructors, and industry partners to feel valued and appreciated. We want to connect, collaborate, and gain new perspectives. We want to share the relevance of our educational programs and their impact on society,” says Lastra.

“This event underscores the ethos of continuing education and the UM – efforts that embody the spirit of lifelong learning, uniting diverse communities for the greater good of all. We hope everyone will leave with a sense of empowerment and a belief in the transformative power of education.”

Buy your tickets for the Gala Evening Empowering Excellence