Career Accelerator Program: Digital Transformation

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Description

This four-week course will teach you the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and techniques needed to begin or continue an organized and strategic career search. You’ll explore key topics including personal branding, résumé design, job prospecting, and interviewing. You’ll also practice personal growth using narrative reflection techniques based on the four pillars of career success, live discussion, and 1:1 meetings with a career coach.

What you will learn

• Principles of narrative reflection.
• Principles of personal branding.
• Technical and organizational skills for résumé building. LinkedIn job prospecting techniques.
• Interviewing techniques and best practices.
• Networking and communication skills.
• Effective relationship building.

Description

Strengthen your foundation in digital transformation with this eight-week course, developed in collaboration with the Ontario Engineering Academy and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. It explores the impact of technology on the workforce and guides you in discovering and integrating new technologies. You will explore current digital transformation models, explore practical applications of emerging technologies, and gain insights from compelling case studies within the advanced manufacturing sector.

As millions of jobs are displaced by the division of labour between humans and technology, this course prepares you to harmonize technology, people, and processes, so you can maintain a competitive edge in today’s marketplace. By doing so, your organization can maintain competitiveness and agility in today's dynamic marketplace, ensuring a strategic balance amidst the challenges posed by technological evolution.

Professional development hours for project managers and engineers

• For project management professionals: The curriculum for this certificate program is relevant for experienced project managers tasked with guiding digital transformation projects. If you are a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), completing this course may qualify for required professional development units as part of your Project Management Professional (PMP) designation. 
• For professional engineers: Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive 40 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours from the Ontario Engineering Academy, part of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). Also, it may qualify to receive the mandatory CPD hours for the Practice Evaluation and Knowledge (PEAK) program for Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) licence holders.
  
  

What you will learn

• Examine the impact that technology will have on your career.  
• Discover emerging digital opportunities and explore the technology that will be the best fit for your organization.  
• Understand the common challenges that organizations face with digital transformation.  
• Balance the human and organizational aspects of digital change.  
• Develop a comprehensive plan to guide your digital transformation.  
• Explore innovative solutions to avoid potential roadblocks to your own digital transformation plans.  
• Utilize practical tools and techniques to continuously improve your digital strategy.  
• Develop your skills and digital literacy and build a compelling case for your business to implement a new digital strategy.  
  
  

Course overview

• Expert instruction from University of Waterloo faculty.  
• Live discussion sessions via Zoom (also available as recordings).  
• Peer discussions and networking opportunities.  
• Case studies from well-known organizations in a variety of industries. Four hours of independent work online each week (including graded assignments and activities). 
• Capstone project that integrates your learning. 
• Attendance requirement: It is highly recommended that participants attend live sessions, but it is not required. Live discussion sessions will be recorded and available for later viewing. 
  
  

Course author and instructor

Peter Carr is a continuing lecturer in the Department of Management Sciences, and has been consulting on the topic of digital transformation for 18 years. He is an expert on the use of technology in business and society. His key areas of focus for research and teaching include: technology innovation and entrepreneurship, the strategic management of technology, project management, the use of social media to improve business performance, technology in developing countries, the social impact of information technology, and online learning.

Carr holds a PhD in lean transformation of traditional manufacturing organizations from Cranfield University in the United Kingdom. He also has strong ties to industry. Prior to joining the University of Waterloo, he was executive director at the Centre for Innovative Management at Athabasca University.

Facilitated by Co-operative and Experiential Education and Practera

This program offers approximately 40 hours of industry-supported project work and engagement that include the following elements: 

• Expand your network and connect with industry leaders and professionals.
• Apply the practical skills and tools that you’ve learned throughout the program in a group project for a real-world industry client (designed to enhance your career prospects and experience through peer collaboration, workshops, and reflection assignments).
• Receive mentorship, guidance, and coaching from industry leaders, so you can learn to give and receive feedback more effectively.

Powered by Uvaro, YWKW, and Plum

Receive three hours of complimentary career coaching resources and supports, provided by Uvaro, that include the following elements: 

• Support for career pathway planning. 
• Tailored insights and coaching based on your personalized skills assessment.
• Access to professional career coaches and resources to aid in your future job search or negotiations. 
• Opportunities to reflect on your skills development and future growth or advancement options. 
• Opportunities to practice your job interview techniques and receive feedback on your performance. 
• Job placement support up to six months after you’ve completed the program. 
• Additional 1:1 coaching support for women (including cis women, trans women, and anyone who identifies as a woman). 

• Receive exclusive access to training modules and digital simulations, designed to support your digital transformation learning journey. 
• Continue to develop your professional skills through complimentary access to one of WatSPEED’s leadership courses and two online skills training programs (offered in partnership with ed2go). Note: Our career coaches will help you choose options that are best suited to your career goals.