One of SCS’s new courses being offered this spring is The Writer as Entrepreneur. We asked course instructor Neil Seeman to share a bit about the inspiration behind the course, and some of the benefits he feels it will bring to our learners.

SCS: “You’ve been an entrepreneur in different fields and an author. What inspired you to meld these different identities to teach a new course in the Creative Writing Program?”

Neil Seeman: “I saw that writers work harder and are more entrepreneurial than most start-up entrepreneurs I know. But writers need supports on how to go from conceiving their idea to selling it to agents, publishers, and to readers across the world. Writers face far tougher market tests than business entrepreneurs. It’s harder to secure a decent publishing deal than to secure venture capital. You have more high highs and low lows in any day as a writer. Rejection meets you at every turn. Steve Jobs said an entrepreneur seeks to dent the universe. That sounds like every writer I’ve known. It’s also Mary Shelley, Charles Dickens, Solzhenitsyn, Toni Morrison, and George Orwell.”

SCS: “What differentiates this course from others like it across the world?”

Neil Seeman: “First, I’m inviting students to reconsider authors like Mary Shelley and Dickens as struggling “ideas entrepreneurs”. Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities were vehicles for Dickens to advocate for social policy reform. Shelley rebuked prevailing social and scientific assumptions through the power of storytelling. Taking learners through the prickly path that the great authors before us took will humanize and make possible what may, at first, seem impossible. Second, I distill the work of great business strategists and entrepreneurs – like the late Clayton Christensen – into how to mould what I call a “baby-steps strategy” to meet an author’s personal goals. These goals will be different for each author. That may be landing an amazing agent or publisher, or amplifying one’s voice for a new, bigger stage across the world. A strategy will dictate how to allocate your scarce time and resources. Third, our intimate classroom will insist that we listen to one another, offering shareable insights into self-care amid periods of solitude and self-critique.”
 
SCS: “What other things can people learn from this course that they cannot learn from artificial intelligence or other existing courses?”

Neil Seeman: “Writing a book of meaning is a high-touch experience. A successful author needs to be vulnerable, to lie on an operating table under the gaze of agents, publicists, editors, publishers, distributors, reviewers, fans, and critics. You’ll learn to love the critics. Writing is the opposite of an anodyne interaction with an AI. Learners will have their individual strategic plans for their writing projects poked at by peers in class. Learners will emerge emboldened. I will hold learners accountable, just like a board of directors would hold any entrepreneur to account. That means ensuring that we design short- and long-term goals that are measurable and meaningful.”

Neil Seeman is teaching a new course at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies called “The Writer as Entrepreneur” — drawing on his work as a serial entrepreneur, writer, publisher, and mental health advocate. Learners will apply entrepreneurship, business strategy, and self-care principles to conceive, plan, and publish their book. The course runs May 7, 2024 - July 9, 202, in-class, Tuesdays, St. George Campus, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM.
 

After fifteen years as an elected official, Michelle Mungall was ready to try something new. She discovered the Creative Writing program at SCS, and after honing her skills with us, will now be featured as a regular opinion contributor for the Vancouver Sun.

Mungall developed a passion for politics early in life.

“I fell in love with politics as a six year-old girl in pigtails listening to the grown-ups in my family talk about Brian Mulroney and the 1984 election. Something about the whole conversation and idea of voting hooked me instantly,” she explains.

“About the same time, I discovered I was an ardent feminist when a neighbourhood boy pushed me off the snowbank to declare he was the king of the castle and I was to clean up after the dirty rascals.”

That passion followed her into adulthood, where Mungall was determined to blaze many trails for women in politics, which included being the first Member of the Legislative Assembly to bring her baby into British Columbia’s Legislative House.

While she had always enjoyed writing, Mungall says she never thought of herself as a writer.

“It was just something I did, and wanted to do well, as part of my other responsibilities,” she says.  

“When I retired from public life, though, I wanted to do something more creative, and found myself buying a new laptop and signing up for the creative writing certificate program.”

Mungall says she will certainly be able to apply what she learned through the program in her pieces for The Sun, as well as a memoir she has in the works.

“My writing has leveled-up more than I could have imagined. I’m a way better storyteller now,” she says.

“I really started to think about the voice and tone I use when telling a story. As a politician, there’s always an element of distance when communicating with your audience, even when being as open as you possibly can. That was deeply ingrained in me, and my instructors and classmates really forced me to look at this over and over again, challenging me to let readers into the story more deeply. I can still hear them and am rewriting sentences all the time with this in mind.”

As a working parent to young children, Mungall says one of the challenges of writing is simply finding the time to do it, and that getting her memoirs down on paper is its own particular hurdle.

“Accessing memories for a memoir is tricky, especially when you’re a tired mom of toddlers. I mean, it’s a win to remember to turn on the dishwasher,” she says.

“My instructors had excellent ways to dig into my own mental files for great stories.”

Mungall has kept in touch with those SCS instructors who have helped her along in her learning and writing journey. “It’s something special when you find people who are genuinely interested in supporting your success,” she says.

Getting feedback from her fellow students in class was also incredibly valuable, says Mungall.

“It was like a testing ground for ideas on how to tell a story and make a piece even better.”

Her advice to anyone considering taking an SCS creative writing course or certificates is simple:

“Dive in and soak up as much as you can.”

Mungall’s opinion contributions  on everything from workplace issues for politicians or minimum wage workers, to energy transition, to human rights, housing, childcare, healthcare and parking will be featured in the Vancouver Sun beginning this spring. She hopes to tackle hot topics in a thought-provoking way that gets conversations going.

Hospital administrator Haleh Rahimi only had a basic understanding of what project management entailed when she started her first course at the School of Continuing Studies (SCS) just a couple of years ago. Now she has successfully completed the notoriously challenging Project Management Professional (PMP) exam. 

While her natural affinity for project management was evident to her colleagues at Mount Sinai even before she began studying the subject, Rahimi credits her SCS Project Management certificate courses, and in particular the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course, and instructor Peter Monkhouse with her success in earning her official PMP designation from the Project Management Institute. 

“This course is so worth it,” she says. “It’s a professor-taught course where you are led through the modules and the exam application process, and like the other SCS project management courses, the modules are recorded so you can go back and review them at your convenience.”

Despite hearing how challenging the exam could be from friends and colleagues who had attempted it in the past, after taking the course and following Monkhouse’s advice, Rahimi says she felt ready to tackle it. 

“I’ve heard roughly 30% of people who write it actually pass the exam. It’s very panic-inducing when you hear that but I had so much confidence that I wouldn’t have had trying to achieve this without the guidance Peter offered. He even looked over my resumé before I sent in my application,” she explains. 

“It feels like I had a one-on-one personal trainer for passing the PMP.”

The SCS PMP prep course includes over 3000 up-to-date practice questions and 6 simulated PMP® practice exams, which learners have access to for 12 months. 

When she submitted her exam, Rahimi says she felt confident. “I hadn’t run out of time, and the questions had been so familiar after doing the prep course mock exams. It was tricky but I knew how to apply the knowledge. So by the end, I just wanted to go lie down on my bed and do nothing for the rest of the day, but I felt good, she laughs.”

PMP hopefuls have the option to write online or in person, and Rahimi says that in addition to walking them through the application process, Monkhouse even gave her and her classmates advice on which option would suit their individual needs. “I wrote it in person at a test centre, and they give you your results on the spot. It’s very scary, but Peter had prepared us with advice on everything from what to expect on your 10-minute break to what kind of snacks to bring, so there were no stressful surprises,” she says. 

“He even goes above and beyond and keeps a schedule of which of his students are writing when and he texted me in the morning to say good luck and to remind me that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I didn’t pass the first time.”

Rahimi says she was thrilled to find that she had indeed passed. With just over a minute per question, her main concern in writing the exam was time management. “But Peter had taught us how to read the questions efficiently,” she explains. 

“He told us not to write the exam until we were getting a particular percentage on the mock exam, without running out of time, and only when you can do that, are you ready to attempt the real thing.” 

Rahimi’s first call after getting her passing result was to her father, a project management engineer. “He couldn’t believe it because he knows how hard the exam is. He has even had workers who were offered raises if they would go and get their PMP designation and they couldn’t do it.”

Rahimi plans to put her new certification to good use. “I love my job but I’m ready for a new challenge,” she says. “I knew I could have started applying for full-time roles after I completed my first three SCS courses, but when you do a little bit of research, everyone is talking about the PMP,” she says. 

“Every time you see a project management-related job posting, it says the PMP designation will be a great asset to your application.” 

Rahimi is now hoping to find a permanent project management role. She feels confident that by adding the PMP designation to her previous education and experience, she is now well-positioned to find her dream PM role within healthcare. 

Given her experience, Rahimi says that her first piece of advice for anyone else hoping to pass the PMP exam is to take the PMI® Authorized PMP® Exam Prep course at SCS. “I kept in touch with a few people from my certificate courses and we checked in with each other after a few months to ask if anyone had done the PMP exam, and most of them had tried and failed,” she shares. 

“The only one who had passed was a guy who had taken the SCS PMP prep course.”

“The only other advice I would give to anyone wanting to take the PMP exam would be that when the instructor tells you that you need to practice, take it seriously, because sitting down for four hours and answering practical questions is something you really need to prepare for,” Rahimi says.

It's a very tough exam, she emphasizes. “It would be so tough to do on your own, I would almost use the word impossible, but I feel like if you take the PMP prep course, follow the instructor’s guidance exactly, and commit to those invaluable mock exams, you will be successful.”

Networking can be a powerful tool for career advancement. It can help you build your confidence, exchange ideas, and provide pathways to new opportunities. Networking expert and SCS instructor Jean Chow shares three tips for networking in multicultural settings. 

1. Consider The Platinum Rule vs The Golden Rule

Most people know The Golden Rule – Treat others how you want to be treated. Yet it’s not always the best way to approach people. You only know how you want to be treated, your background, your cultural upbringing, your standards.

The Platinum Rule is an important shift in perspective which challenges you to treat others how they want to be treated.

So how do we know how they want to be treated? Applying the Platinum Rule involves understanding and respecting the unique preferences of individuals in various contexts, (including cultural context), developing meaningful relationships, and offering helpful collaboration.

2. Humility helps

Don’t think you’re the smartest person in the room. Listen more. Have a beginner’s mindset. In Japanese, the word “shoshin” means “beginner’s mind.” You may find it refreshing and freeing when you learn to let go of your preconceptions and have an attitude of openness when learning

3. Be culturally curious and sensitive

Do you work on a multicultural team and/or work for a multinational company? Often, the answer is “Yes!” Look around. In our professional and personal lives, we may all speak the same language but this doesn’t necessarily translate into engagement and collaboration. Communication is not so straightforward. English is widely spoken in the following countries: Canada, U.S., U.K., Ghana, and Australia, and yet our cultures are different.

Whether you are an emerging or established leader, our course Fearless Networking – Connecting Across Cultures can help you learn more about your own communication style and discover how it can be further developed to facilitate successful professional networking and meaningful relationships. 

Super connector and SCS instructor Jean Chow is currently focused on her successful professional coaching practice, aptly known on social media as @MsBizWiz, she also hosts the “Dream Network”, a highly diverse, international professional networking organization, which she founded in 2018. Jean knows instinctively what could be and is excited by the prospect of connecting people, ideas, and projects to get things done or to create something bigger and better. No longer active on the squash court (now Pickleball!), she is delighted her squash network continues to thrive and help others. Jean enjoys spending time as a volunteer mentor helping youth recognize and realize their potential and is writing a field guide about her intelligent approach to successful networking.

Megan Fleming had her eye on a new career pathway when she decided to register for the first course in the School of Continuing Studies Digital Strategy and Communications Management certificate. 

“I really wanted to increase my skills and expertise in digital communications strategy and social media beyond my experiences in using social media personally and on a volunteer basis. I was looking towards transitioning into a different role on my team if it were to become available or find another similar role at U of T in Communications & Knowledge Translation,” she explains.

Her manager was fully supportive of her desire to add new skills to her resume, seeing the potential benefit to both Fleming and the team she worked with, and encouraged her to take advantage of the courses available through SCS.  

Sure enough, Fleming has been able to use the knowledge she acquired through her SCS courses as she made the transition from Research Administrative Assistant to Communications & Knowledge Translation Officer.

“This role is way more up my alley, and I feel confident and prepared to fulfill its responsibilities thanks to a lot of what I learned through this certificate,” she says.

“I’m still learning as I go, but I constantly find myself returning to my course notes to support my work.”

For Fleming, one of the most valuable takeaways of the certificate came early in the first course: that her storytelling didn’t always need to be perfect to be effective. 

“As part of my course, Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy & Social Media, I was to create my own website, blog, and, optionally, podcast. I’m a keener, so I challenged myself to start my first podcast at the intersection of health promotion and communications,” she shares. 

“This course truly encouraged me to just get the episodes out there, but I was able to learn as I went about how to do so strategically. While I’m still thinking about what the future of this podcast holds, I’m so thankful for the push from this course to get me to try out a different communications medium.”

In fact, Fleming says trying her hand at podcasting wound up being some of her favourite coursework.

“I started my own podcast entitled Holding Healthy Space, which was all about communicating about health and social issues in a transparent, respectful, equitable, and empowering way,” she says.

“I was able to connect with a friend who works as a boundaries and burnout coach to chat about her work and how to hold space on social media for self-proclaimed people-pleasers and overachievers, and I developed and shared a whole episode about how to encourage our loved ones to engage in healthier behaviours, sharing a framework with the audience to keep in their health communication toolkit when holding healthy space. This project was so rewarding and fun!”

The biggest challenge Fleming came across in completing her courses was simply to carve out the time, but she says that assignments tailored to learners’ choice of topics meant she really looked forward to doing her homework. She believes the certificate in Digital Strategy and Communications Management could be useful to anyone wanting to be on top of the latest trends in social media and digital communications, particularly emerging communications specialists or anyone using digital communications and social media as part of their work.

Based on her experience, Fleming shares her advice for other people exploring lifelong learning at the University of Toronto: 

“Find ways to make it exciting for you, and if you can’t, it might not be for you! There’s always a way to bring in a personal touch into the assignments or find ways to apply the teachings to your own work.”

1. Move Your Career Forward

   Prepare for and decide on the next bold step in your career with the help of our one-on-one coaching, workshops, and free resources through the Blueprint Career Services portal.

2. Learn a Language 

   Our language courses and certificates can help you learn or improve your skills in a wide variety of languages, while our popular English Language program can help you reach your academic, professional, or personal English Language goals.

3. Improve Your Cognitive Health 

   Learning new information and skills can help your brain to keep growing and maintain neuroplasticity, which can help with memory, learning, depression, and can even aid in recovery from strokes or traumatic brain injuries.

4. Build a More Fulfilling Social Life 

   Growing your social circle as an adult can be challenging! We love seeing our learners connect with people who share a common interest with them and build new lifelong friendships.

5. Improve Your Project Management Abilities 

   Project management continues to be an in-demand skill set across sectors. Make 2024 the year you develop this skill set for yourself, or prepare to formalize the skills you already have with a Project Management Institute certification.

6. Start Your Memoirs

   You’ve got stories to tell. Find your writing community and let our expert creative writing instructors guide you in telling those stories in a clear and compelling way. Not quite ready for memoirs? Check out our wide variety of other writing genres to explore.

7. Update Your Marketing Skills 

   With the explosion of AI technology over the past few years, there has never been a better time to ensure your marketing skills and toolkit are current and competitive. Our expert marketing and communications instructors are passionate about doing just that and about passing on their up-to-date knowledge to help you future-proof your marketing career.

8. Become An Effective Leader 

   Whether you already lead a team or you aspire to take on a leadership role within your organization this year, our leadership program can help you develop the skills and mindset of a great leader.

9. Earn A Professional Certification or Designation

   You know what your skills and abilities are. Now let potential employers know by earning an in-demand designation to add to your resumé. Whether you are working towards earning a professional designation or certification, or need to maintain your credential with continuing education requirements, we have partner-recognized courses and certificates to help you succeed on your journey forward

10. Become More Mindful 

    If your goal this year is to seek more discipline, tolerance, calm, and mental clarity, the courses and certificates in our mindfulness program can help make 2024 your most mindful year yet! 
     

SCS learner Anuja Varghese completed her creative writing certificate in September 2023. Hot on the heels of that achievement, this brilliant member of our creative writing community has won this year’s Governor General’s Literary Award for fiction for her short story collection, Chrysalis. 

A top honour in Canadian literature, the Governor General’s Literary Awards were created in 1936 to celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada. The award recognizes the best books in English and French in seven categories: Fiction; Non-fiction; Poetry; Drama; Young People’s Literature – Text; Young People’s Literature – Illustrated Books; and, Translation.

We sat down with Varghese earlier this year to hear about her experience going from SCS learner to published writer and she described Chrysalis as a collection of genre-blending short stories that centre women and girls of colour, and explore community, sexuality, cultural expectations, and moments of transformation through a feminist lens.

“When I think about what inspired me to write these stories – two things come to mind. The first is that I wanted to write brown girl characters who break free of the roles they are often ascribed in media (typically immigrants, nerds, victims, and sidekicks), and who reflect the intersections of identity that I experience as a second generation queer woman of colour,” she explains. “The second is that I was writing both literary fiction and genre fiction and I wanted to create a collection that made space for both.”

When pressed to choose a favourite story from her collection, she instead refered us to the dedication page in Chrysalis, which reads, “This book is for all the girls and women who don’t see themselves in most stories. You are worthy of reflection, despite what you have been told. Reflection in this context can mean two things: a throwing back or mirroring of; and worthy of serious consideration.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Cyber threats can be scary, and for good reason. Malware can be lurking in a suspicious email users get convinced to click. All it takes is one crack in the door of the network to let all the wrong ones in; spear phishing witches, ravenous ransom wolves, you name it!

But never fear! While torches, pitchforks and silver bullets never put down a data breach, a resilient security culture in your organization is your best bet for keeping the beasts at bay.

In a highly digitized world, data is an omnipresent asset that needs to be protected. The security of data has become an ubiquitous concern as it pertains to Privacy, Intellectual Property, Nation and Citizen safety and the overall competitive advantage of firms and organizations.

The Cyber Security threat landscape is continuously evolving and becoming more sophisticated, hence more dangerous. This means that people, both in their private lives and at every level in organizations, including members of the Boards of Directors, need to be aware of the risks and be equipped with the pertinent knowledge and skills to manage them.

The SCS Cyber Security Foundations course addresses these needs and delves into the key tenets of Cyber Security resilience: confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

This October (Cyber Security Awareness Month), here are five tips to get you started with improving your personal cybersecurity: 

1. Go to "Settings" on your mobile devices and enable automatic software updates under 'General'
2. Maintain strong passwords that should be unique and update them on a regular basis 
3. Don't share passwords with anybody (people, suppliers, banks, retailers, credit card companies or any other company or organization), as no legitimate entity will ask for them 
4. Be suspicious of emails from unknown sources (people, suppliers, various companies or organizations) and for those, don't click on links or open attachments 
5. Don't keep too many open browsers (windows) on your mobile devices (desktops, laptops, tablets, phones) and close them as soon as you can.

To learn more about SCS Cyber Security courses, please visit our Cyber Security Management Certificate page. 
 

Raquel Richards’ decision to join the U of T School of Continuing Studies community was sparked by a lifelong dream to attend courses at a university and inspired by her late great grandmother’s values of education, knowledge, and success. Little did she know that registering for the SCS Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy & Social Media course, would set her on an exciting new career path in the field of AI.

The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic also pushed Richards to re-examine her life and work goals. “The pandemic's impact on our ability to embrace life's experiences became apparent, compelling me to confront the need to pursue my passions and carve out a life that resonated with my authentic self and aspirations,” she explains. 

“At the same time, I took a deep dive into the adverse effects of my existing job and made the pivotal choice to depart from my 10-year position at the LCBO.”

Richards knew she was interested in digital content creation, and so she launched her business “Wrong Door Creative,” dedicated to just that. At the same time, began working towards her certificate in Multimedia Storytelling and Content Marketing at SCS. 

A moment of concern arose for Richards early in the Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy and Social Media course when she realized it included a PR component. “Around a quarter of the way through, I realized the curriculum has a large public relations component— a domain I was seeking to move away from,” she says.  

However, she soon discovered that the AI element of this course would be a crucial step on her career journey.

Now, in addition to her work as a content creator and multimedia storyteller, Richards works as an AI prompt writer, currently on assignment for Meta, through IT services and talent company, TEKsystems. She works on the composition, evaluation, and analysis of prompts that fuel an AI chatbot's interactions and responses.

Richards says she enjoys putting her affinity for words, creativity, and the realm of artificial intelligence to work in this new position. 

“What brings me joy is the rapid pace and dynamic nature of the field,” she adds. 
 

“The constant evolution of technology, the ever-changing interface, and the emergence of new trends—It’s exhilarating and chaotic, and I love it!”

The knowledge gained from the Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy and Social Media course was instrumental to Richards finding herself working in the world of AI.

“This initial exposure served as a catalyst for further exploration on my part. I delved into self-guided learning on additional programs and platforms,” she explains. 

“This course acted as a springboard, providing me with essential insights and initiating my journey into AI.”

Richards also particularly credits instructor Alison Garwood-Jones with supporting her along her learning and career path. “Her teaching approach, rooted in genuine passion for the subject matter and extensive experience in the digital communications field, made a substantial impact on me,” Richards says. 

“One of the standout aspects of Alison's instruction was her ability to foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. I felt at ease participating in class discussions, offering insights, comments, and suggestions. This comfort was invaluable in facilitating an open exchange of ideas and knowledge. Moreover, her responsiveness to student questions further enhanced my learning experience, ensuring that concepts were understood.”

In addition to finding herself on an exciting new career path, Richards says the best thing about taking the Foundations of Digital Communications Strategy and Social Media course was the constant anticipation of wondering what she would learn next. She believes the course could be helpful for anyone seeking to enhance their skill set in business and marketing management within the realm of social media, as well as for PR professionals wishing to keep their skills up-to-date or for anyone looking to develop a foundational understanding of the world of generative AI. 

She also offers some advice for anyone looking to take this course or any of the courses in the Multimedia Storytelling and Content Marketing certificate: “Allocate dedicated time for the course throughout the semester. The course demands consistent effort and engagement. Set aside the time slots for the webinars, reading course materials, and working on assignments. Attend class (live webinars if taken online), they offer real-time interaction. If you miss one watch the recording ASAP so you don’t fall behind. Actively participate in discussions, both in class and online, and don't hesitate to ask questions. It’s how you learn!”
 

While many people are aware of the concept of entrepreneurship (when someone comes up with their own idea or product and uses it to start a business or businesses, finding success by taking risks) you may not be as familiar with the idea of intrapreneurship. 

According to SCS Business Innovation instructor Ferhan Bulca, intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs share a similar mindset. 

“The differences between intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs are very subtle. Intrapreneurs do it for an organization whereas entrepreneurs build their own companies,” he explains. 

“When I look at the fundamental drives behind these two types of people, intrapreneurs do it because they’re passionate about the solution and solving every problem for their customer base and they’re happy to do this in an organization, for somebody else.”

So why is intrapreneurship so important to organizational success? Here are three reasons to encourage intrapreneurship in your organization: 

1. To boost employee morale

Encouraging your team members to flex their creative problem-solving muscles and rewarding them when they come up with and follow through on ideas to further your organization’s goals is a clear win-win. Cultivating an environment where intrapreneurship is valued and rewarded, and where employees can see their work makes a measurable difference, will help keep them motivated, and help your organization to retain top talent. 

2. To Increase Agility

With the rapid evolution of technology and social change of the past few years, it has never been more important for organizations to respond to change quickly and nimbly. A team that is accustomed to taking initiative and ownership of creative solutions is crucial to your organization’s ability to quickly pivot and evolve to meet the changing needs of your customers or clients. 

3. To Foster Innovation 

“Intrapreneurs are well positioned to become change agents within their organization because innovation by definition is a novel way of doing something in a different and better way,” says Bulca.

“Intrapreneurs have to deliver this [solution] to the organization and change the way things are done currently into a new way, which requires them to be change agents.”

Want to learn more about intrapreneurship? Check out our Business Innovation courses, now open for registration.

Each year, the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies recognizes instructors who exemplify excellence in adult education. SCS Excellence in Teaching Award winners are nominated by learners who feel that their instructors have gone above and beyond to share their knowledge in a way that is particularly engaging, helpful and inspiring. 

“Knowledge is such a precious, life-changing resource,” says SCS Dean Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow. 

“The dedication these instructors have to changing lives by sharing the knowledge they have acquired through years of study and experience is truly inspiring. We are so proud of them and their passion for lifelong learning.”

This year’s award winners, being recognized for teaching during the 2021-2022 academic year, are: 

Excellence in Teaching – Business and Professional Studies

Joanna Tivig

Joanna’s learners describe her as an enthusiastic and excellent instructor, whose coaching skills are clearly backed by years of experience. Her industry insights in project management and agile are rich, and she generously shares this vast information with her students. Joanna is a passionate and engaging instructor. Her knowledge and experience allow her to quickly "read the room” and adapt and tailor her approach so everyone understands and benefits.

Mouaz Aref Al-Zayyat

Mouaz is described by learners as a fantastic educator who makes learning so interesting, keeping all his students engaged all the time. He is professional, easy to connect with, and very responsive to questions. He engages the class and checks in to ensure everyone is following along. He can provide a thorough webinar and review the assignments all with a smile. He is a great storyteller with his real life examples of the topics being discussed in class. 

Shelley McMain

Learners say Shelley is thorough, clear and kind in her teaching. Her lectures are informative and relevant. Her course material is well put together with excellent resources. She is an expert in her field and an inspirational teacher. She accommodates her students' diverse learning styles to make her classroom comfortable and inclusive. She shares personal examples to explain the material being covered. 

Excellence in Teaching – Arts and Science

Marta O’Brien

Learners say Marta is an excellent instructor. She is knowledgeable, a good communicator and a very interesting architecture presenter.  She has a great base of knowledge, both locally and with European architecture.  Her presentations are interesting, easy to understand, and learners gain a lot of architectural knowledge through her instruction. Marta is always interested and available to answer any questions or follow up with additional information. 

Excellence in Teaching – Creative Writing

Becky Blake

According to learners, Becky Blake is organized, warm, encouraging, and highly in tune with the professional world of creative non-fiction writing. Her feedback is detailed, helpful and encouraging. Her assignments are both fun and challenging. She cultivates a comfortable learning environment, allowing students to interact without interference, while at the same time, keeping a watchful eye on discussions and stepping in when it is helpful. She creates a positive and inclusive environment for students of diverse backgrounds. Her love of teaching and learning shines through in all she does. 

Excellence in Teaching – Languages and Translation 

Hiromi Howe

Learners say Hiromi Howe’s passion for teaching is evident. She has been in the field of Japanese Language Teaching for many years and continues to uphold the passion and value of sharing information and her knowledge to students. Her classes are well organized and prepared. She uses a variety of media to engage students and tailor the learning experience to their different learning styles.  During classes, she integrates activities and games where all students have opportunities to engage with the information learned and practice their new skills. She upholds the principle of inclusion and diversity in a learning environment. She takes the stress out of language learning and makes it a pleasant, fun and memorable journey. She is also patient and is very responsive to students' questions even outside of class time. 

New Instructor Award

Rosa Cendros Araujo

Learners say Rosa is an amazing instructor who has an incredible energy in the classroom and genuinely wants to see her students succeed. She is an inspiration for people who want to work in the Learning Design field. Rosa is very knowledgeable about current research and practices in learning design. She is very approachable, making it easy to get to know her and ask more specific questions about the field. She makes learning palatable, fun, and engaging. 

Online Teaching Award

Saeid Abolfazli

Saied’s learners say he is an amazing teacher with a wealth of knowledge. He is very patient with his students and has great passion for his work. This passion and his willingness to mentor learners are extremely helpful in guiding students on their journey. Hi is organized, and always quick to respond to learner questions. His real life examples make it easy for learners to understand difficult concepts and brings a great energy to the classroom. 

Career Impact Award

David Vrbanek

David’s learners say he demonstrates a contagious passion and enthusiasm for business analysis, inspiring students to explore careers in the industry. He provides insider insight and perspective into careers in the field, including a realistic understanding of what the daily work experience and challenges are. David highlights potential career streams to students and provide them with direction as to how to pursue new opportunities. He provides learners with an opportunity to network among their peers and make new career connections. David takes a genuine interest in the professional goals of students and provides support on how to achieve those goals.

For more information on the U of T SCS Excellence in Teaching Awards please visit our awards page. 

The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies has established its inaugural equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) advisory council to increase access for diverse learners and communities, and further the school’s anti-racism/discrimination, anti-oppression, and community engagement efforts.

“We know what an impact that lifelong learning can have, not just on the individual learner, but on whole communities. The ripple effect is truly amazing,” says SCS Dean, Dr. Catherine Chandler-Crichlow. 

“But we are also very aware that for certain groups, there are barriers in place that make accessing the knowledge and skills they need, far more challenging than it should be. That’s why I’m so excited to be working with this dedicated and knowledgeable team to find ways to address those barriers to access.”

The council is comprised of individuals from diverse sectors with an understanding of the needs, experiences, challenges, and opportunities of a variety of communities, as well as experience in research, community advocacy, and human rights/EDI-related expertise.

The group includes Dr. Chandler-Crichlow, Jean Chow (SCS Learner & Instructor), Allison Pond (ACCES Employment), Nosa Ero-Brown (Ontario Public Service), Ferhan Bulca (SCS Instructor), Dr. Matthew Jelavic (CIM / SCS Association Partner), Jennifer Boyce (Loblaws), Allison Burgess (U of T, People Strategy, Equity and Culture Division); Farah Alexis (Hydro One); Norbert Costa (Toronto District School Board). and SCS Director of EDI Amanda Weaver.

Weaver says SCS is keen to be a point of convergence for the council to focus on the collaboration and co-creation of solutions which heighten the learner experience and provide concrete impacts for the Division, the organizations council members represent, and the communities they serve.

“We have a strong internal EDI committee within the school who are committed to championing and pushing EDI initiatives forward. Dr. Chandler-Crichlow and I believe that establishing an external Advisory Council is also critical to the success of this work to create a culture of inclusion and belonging for everyone in our SCS eco-system,” she explains.

““At the conclusion of the first-ever council meeting, we quickly identified themes we are looking forward to activating:  Access and Data; Building Relationships; Research; and overall, the council’s impact.”

For more information about the school’s EDI commitments, please visit our EDI page.