U of R Microcertificates Serve Up New Skills for Busy Adults – Fast!

When Heather Bryant, a director of finance and administration for a Regina creative agency, found herself taking on additional people management  and responsibilities at work, she noticed areas where she wanted to improve so looked into professional development options. 

“I’ve always been confident but felt I was missing leadership skills around power dynamics and having difficult conversations,” shares Bryant “I wanted to enhance or add more tools to my tool belt and found the High Impact Leadership microcertificate at CCE. The courses have really helped me through situations that I would have struggled with before.”

It felt like a safe space to learn and share. I really enjoyed interacting with others who had different industry and business experience. I gained so much and use the tools almost every day, even with my husband and children. I loved it. — Heather Bryant, Director of Finance and Administration, The Phoenix Group 

Since launching microcertificates three years ago, the University of Regina’s Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) has seen interest grow in the shorter courses aimed at working professionals looking for a career boost while trying to balance an already busy schedule. Each microcertificate is comprised of three 14-hour courses that are delivered over two days in-person or three half-days remotely. Bryant opted to take her three courses — Navigate Difficult Conversations, Manage Power Dynamics, and Assertive Leadership — in person at the beautiful and historical College Avenue campus. 

“It felt like a safe space to learn and share. I really enjoyed interacting with others who had different industry and business experience. I gained so much and use the tools almost every day, even with my husband and children. I loved it,” says Bryant.

After each course, a digital credential or badge is issued to the learner through MyCreds™ that they can share immediately with employers in an email or post on their LinkedIn profile. The full microcertificate is awarded after completion of all three of the required courses. 

Karen Merz, Manager, Professional Development & Community Programs with CCE, helped develop the microcertificate programming and says the response to the microcertificates has been very positive. 

“We’re super pleased with how well the microcredential offerings were received. The whole purpose of these courses is to cover a very specific skill set in a constructive, engaging, and interactive way that produces quick results, and with a credential to show for it. Our students really like the digital badges and the ability to share their accomplishment via LinkedIn.”

CCE currently offers five professional microcertificates. They are targeted to high-demand skills identified via research conducted on job postings from employers across the province:

• Business Communications with Written Communications, Facilitation & Consensus Building, and Presentation & Public Speaking courses
• Effective Communication with Written Communications, Navigate Difficult Conversations, and Business Communication courses
• High Impact Leadership with Navigate Difficult Conversations, Manage Power Dynamics, and Assertive Leadership courses
• Responsive Management with Hybrid Work Essentials, Crisis Management, and Resilient Leadership courses
• Trauma-Informed/Sensitive Pedagogies and Practices - offered in partnership with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) Professional Learning and the U of R’s Child Trauma Research Centre. 

A microcertificate can be earned in as little as one term, or take up to two years. There are no tests or graded assignments and 80% attendance for each day of the course is the measurement of success. The goal is to create a conducive learning environment free of additional stress. 

Merz says the secret ingredient to their microcertificates might also be their instructors.

Find a microcertificate to serve up the skills you need for a career boost. Credential Search Results | University of Regina 

“Our instructors bring the ‘wow factor.’ They are all local experts with in-depth experience and impressive work accomplishments — and they are passionate about bringing people together to learn then apply their newly acquired skills to making improvements within their workplace.” 

CCE will be adding more microcertificate options in the near future.

Banner photo credit: CCE Marketing & Communications