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University Canada West welcomes Dr Bashir Makhoul as new president

Posted on by Global University Systems

University Canada West (UCW), Vancouver’s pre-eminent independent university offering technology-enabled, business-focused programs, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bashir Makhoul as its new President and Vice-Chancellor, effective October 2023.

Dr. Makhoul comes to UCW following a 6½ year term as President and Vice-Chancellor at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in the United Kingdom, where he spearheaded the creation of the UK’s first Business School for the Creative Industries. Under his leadership, UCA was named Modern University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide in 2019.

A native of Galilee and longtime resident of the United Kingdom, Dr. Makhoul brings a unique breadth of experience to his role at UCW. An artist by vocation and training, Dr. Makhoul’s works explore themes of conflict, displacement and identity, and have been featured in top galleries worldwide. As an academic and professor, he is among the world’s foremost published experts on contemporary Palestinian and Asian art. And as a university administrator and leader, Dr. Makhoul has earned a reputation as a catalyst for academic innovation and quality improvement.

“Dr. Makhoul embodies the qualities we value most in leadership: experience, vision, and a deep commitment to our students’ success,” said Cyndi McLeod, Chair of UCW’s Board of Governors. “His international background and dedication to academic quality make him the ideal person to lead UCW into the future.”

“It is my honor to be appointed UCW’s next President,” Dr. Makhoul said. “I share the university’s commitment to providing high-quality education and fostering a vibrant campus community. UCW is an institution with solid foundations: a dedicated staff, an entrepreneurial faculty, a deeply diverse student body, and an exceptional campus in the heart of a great city— all the essential ingredients for an extraordinary learning experience. I am eager to be part of it.”

UCW as a beacon of quality and student success

As incoming President, Dr. Makhoul will deepen UCW’s commitment to providing quality academic programs that develop students into career-ready graduates and future organizational leaders. Drawing upon his global experience in academia, Dr. Makhoul will lead UCW’s efforts to provide innovative courses and programs that appeal to students’ passions and meet the talent needs of the British Columbia economy.

Dr. Makhoul also plans to enhance UCW’s student services and supports to ensure that every student can excel in their studies and reach their full potential — a theme that runs through his own life and career. “Post-secondary education is the great equalizer,” Dr. Makhoul said. “I know firsthand what it means and what it takes to travel great distances in pursuit of knowledge and a better life.

“Growing up in rural Palestine, the chance to study abroad opened doors that I am still walking through today. I want to ensure UCW provides that same access to opportunity as I enjoyed because with education, anything is possible.”

Dr. Makhoul is also committed to joining Canadians on their shared journey of Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and to continuing UCW’s important work in this area.

“Dr. Makhoul is an exceptional academic and administrator who will be an asset not only to UCW but to Vancouver, British Columbia and Canada as well,” said outgoing UCW President and Vice-Chancellor Sheldon Levy. “It’s my pleasure to welcome Bashir to UCW, and I look forward to the fresh new perspective he will bring to the university.”

Trebas Institute partners with Cinéfranco

Posted on by Global University Systems

Trebas Institute and the Cinéfranco French Film Festival are excited to announce a new
partnership to bring French films and cultural experiences to students in Toronto and Montreal. The two organizations recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to initiate the unique cooperation between both entities.

Marcelle Lean, Founder and Artistic Director of Cinéfranco, and Mohamed Slimani, the Vice President of Operations at Trebas Institute, signed the partnership agreement at a signing event held at the Trebas Institute. The new partnership will see Trebas assist in the promotion of the Cinéfranco French Film Festival and provide academic and creative educational support activities related to the film and entertainment industry in both their Toronto and Montreal campuses.

The Cinéfranco Youth Program is dedicated exclusively to students and their teachers. It includes a dozen films and gives students the opportunity to experience French outside the classroom, in a playful yet educational framework. Cinéfranco strives to ensure that the films shown reflect curriculum topics. Each of the films programmed comes with its description file and educational kit, which teachers can access online. The Youth Program offers young viewers a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with francophone cinema and cultures.

Commenting on the partnership, Mohamed Slimani, Vice President of Operations at Trebas Institute said: “We are excited to partner with Cinéfranco and support our joint mission of bringing French films and cultural experiences to students in Toronto and Montreal. Our shared passion for accessible education and industry-relevant qualifications makes this partnership a perfect fit, and we look forward to the positive educational and cultural impact it will have on our students.”

Marcelle Lean, Founder and Artistic Director of Cinéfranco, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Trebas
Institute into our revered partners family. Trebas Institute will enhance our goals and programs with its expertise, the high quality of its education and the passion for cinema and Francophone films that we share. Thanks to Trebas Institute, Cinéfranco envisions several collaborative projects that will open up its horizon.”

To show support for this new initiative and partnership, Trebas Institute film students volunteered at the Cinéfranco Youth Program which ran from February 21 to March 6, 2023. The students are excited about this unique opportunity to learn about French films and culture.

Established in 1979, Trebas Institute has campuses in both Montreal and Toronto. Trebas has had over 3,000 graduates from over 40 countries. The college is also one of the principal subsidiaries of Global University Systems (GUS), an international network of higher education institutions united by a passion for delivering accessible, industry-relevant credentials.

For more information,
visit https://www.trebas.com/. 

Dal researchers’ chance discovery could help extend battery life

Posted on by Editorial Team

It happens far too often: you plug your laptop in and walk away only to return hours or days later to find it has lost some of its charge despite sitting idle and unused.

The phenomenon — called self-discharge — has frustrated users and industry alike, and puzzled manufacturers trying to determine why lithium-ion battery cells tend to lose some of their charge over time.

A researcher at Dalhousie University has identified a surprisingly common culprit that, if replaced, could address an enduring problem for the industry.

“In commercial battery cells there is tape — like Scotch tape — that holds the electrodes together and there is a chemical decomposition of this tape, which creates a molecule that leads to the self-discharge,” says Michael Metzger, an assistant professor and the Herzberg-Dahn chair and in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science.

“In our laboratory we do many highly complex experiments to improve batteries, but this time we discovered a very simple thing It’s a very simple thing — it is in every plastic bottle and no one would have thought that this has such a huge impact on how the lithium-ion cells degrade.”

Read the two studies, here and here, published in the Journal of The Electrochemical Society

An unexpected discovery

Dr. Metzger and his colleagues wanted to understand why lithium-ion battery cells self-discharge. As part of their research, they opened several cells after exposing them to different temperatures.

They were stunned to see that the electrolyte solution in the cell was bright red, something they had never seen before.

They then began exploring the cause, placing cells with common electrolyte solution into ovens at four different temperatures. One at 25 C remained clear, while the sample at 55 C was light brown and the highest one at 70C was blood red. They did a chemical analysis and looked at the chemical composition of the electrolyte.

That’s when they found that the polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, in the tape decomposes and creates the molecule that leads to the self-discharge. The molecule is called a redox shuttle because it can travel to the positive side of the electrode, then to the negative side and then back to the positive side. So, it shuttles between the electrodes and that creates the self-discharge, just like lithium is supposed to do. The problem is that the shuttle molecule is doing it all the time in the background, even when no lithium is supposed to move when the battery just sitting there.

“It’s something we never expected because no one looks at these inactive components, these tapes and plastic foils in the battery cell but it really needs to be considered if you want to limit side reactions in the battery cell,” he says of the tape made from PET, a strong, lightweight plastic used widely in packaging and pop bottles.

Recommended reading: Battery pioneers charge up with $6M NSERC Alliance Grant, the largest grant of its kind ever at Dal

Commercially relevant

The researchers outlined their findings in two new papers and are catching the attention of industrial heavyweights seeking ways to improve their batteries’ performance.

Dr. Metzger recently visited a company in the States that relies on dependable, long-lasting batteries, and was asked about the tape issue after hearing about Dr. Metzger’s novel discovery.

“The self-discharge is a super important metric for them,” says Dr. Metzger. “One of the engineers said, ‘I heard you guys found out something is wrong with PET tape.’ So, I explained to him that it’s causing this self-discharge and asked him, ‘What are you using in your cells?’ He said, ‘PET tape.'”

The information could lead to a fix that might involve replacing the PET tape with a more stable material that won’t degrade.

“It’s a commercially relevant discovery. It’s a small thing but it can definitely help improve battery cells,” he says.

Malaysia forges collaborative ties with Canada universities

Posted on by UiTMCNS

In keeping with the aim of recognizing and establishing Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) as a world class renowned University, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between UiTM and the University of Ottawa, Canada. This was signed by the President of the University of Ottawa, President Jacques Fremont and the Vice Chancellor of UiTM, Prof. Datuk Ts. Dr. Hjh. Roziah Mohd Janor. This significant event was witnessed by Her Excellency, Datin Paduka Anizan Siti Hajjar Adnin, the Malaysian High Commissioner to Canada, at the Alex Trebek Alumni Hall at the university campus.

This effort was initiated by the UiTM Negeri Sembilan team, headed by the Rector, Prof. Dr. Yamin Yasin. The initial step was the signing of the Letter of Intent which was held on the 25th day of May, 2022 in UiTM, Shah Alam, Malaysia. Collaborative initiatives included various efforts in teaching collaboratively with lecturers involved at an international level. Apart from this, collaborations which focused on research and publication in the field of Engineering. Some of the outcomes of these involved the development and empowerment of the alumni and the community engagement within campus while encouraging collaborations via international competitions and placements for trainees. This event was not an isolated one but included the visit and preliminary discussions with other institutions of learning – George Brown College and the University of Carleton.

In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of UiTM fleshed out excerpts from the President’s previous speech during the LoI signing ceremony. She quoted the President “Signing an MoU is easy but the challenge is to achieve the objective that has been set out in the document”. These words have formed the very inspiration for UiTM with the full and complete support from the High Commissioner’s office. These individuals played important roles in facilitating the planning and making a reality, the travel journey of the Malaysian delegation over a time duration of 20 hours to reach their destination – Ottawa, Canada to sign an MoU that would stretch over a period of 3 years.

Energizing our future – Dalhousie University

Posted on by Editorial Team

PhD student Ines Hamam is developing the batteries that will keep the world running

Lithium-ion batteries. They have changed our world as power sources for smart phones, pacemakers, and electric cars. But they also pose problems because they use cobalt to enhance energy storage and battery life.

“Most of the world’s cobalt is mined in Africa and it has been related to significant sociocultural and environmental issues such as child labour, safety, and lack of compensation,” explains Ines Hamam, a Killam Scholar who is earning her PhD in Materials Engineering at Dalhousie University. “Being from Northern Africa, it is really important to me to help the battery industry end its reliance on cobalt so that we can prevent the destruction of the continent.”

Ines is making progress on that goal with the Jeff Dahn Research Group at Dalhousie. She is working with them to develop enhanced electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Specifically, Ines is exploring the potential to replace cobalt with other materials, which would result in electric vehicle batteries that are not only less problematic but more affordable. It is research that has the potential to bring about a global transition to renewable energy sources and thus help reduce both greenhouse emissions and the impact of climate change.

Perhaps the most promising option for replacing cobalt is nickel, which is abundant, easy to mine, and delivers comparable energy. But Ines says using nickel presents its own set of challenges. “It isn’t entirely green, for one, and achieving high energy density requires pushing nickel to a level that may not be safe,” she explains. “Also, you have faster capacity fade when using nickel, which means the battery loses its ability to hold a charge quicker, and that compromises your driving range. We are looking at various approaches to address that, such as combining nickel with different coating materials, to create a high-performance electrode.”

Coating candidates include tungsten and aluminum. Through her own work and collaborations, Ines is exploring how these materials measure up in terms of performance as well as mechanical strength to ensure there are no compromises in safety. It is possible, she says, that none of the materials she is assessing may be adopted by industry but adds that is not what motivates her in her work.

“It can take years to develop a solution that is applied by industry,” she explains. “What is important to me is to contribute to a better scientific understanding of these materials and lithium-ion battery technology in general. In that way, my work has value because it has the potential to inspire others to conduct more research in this area. And our combined efforts will provide the battery industry with the knowledge and guidance they need to make the right decisions.”

Ines plans to keep working with the battery industry after earning her PhD and hopes her efforts will lead to energy storage systems that not only take electric vehicles out of the realm of luxury items but also end our reliance on coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

“This is a relatively new field and there are many interesting startups focused on battery manufacturing, material manufacturing, and electric vehicles,” she says. “These startups are going to need expertise to help them bring their products to market, and that creates significant potential for me to apply my training and help the world transition to more sustainable energy.”

Trebas Institute Toronto extends partnership with Number 9 Audio Group

Posted on by Global University Systems

Trebas Institute Toronto is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Number 9 Audio Group, a renowned recording studio in Toronto, providing students with the opportunity to hone their technical and creative skills using industry standard facilities.

As part of this partnership, Number 9 Audio Group will provide recording resources, including space, equipment and recording engineers, for students in Trebas’ Audio Engineering program. Delivering a blend of theoretical learning and practical experience is an integral element within the Trebas curriculum and students will benefit considerably from the hands-on experience working with musicians, bands and sound engineers.

The partnership has also led to the launch of the ‘Number 9 Trebas Graduate Award’ which will be presented at Trebas’ graduation ceremony. The award recipient will receive a formal internship at the Number 9 studio or free studio time, among other benefits.

Number 9 Audio Group has been providing professional audio services since 1981 and is renowned for recording with high-profile clients including Rush, Amanda Marshall, K-os, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones.

Commenting on the partnership, Mohamed Slimani, Vice-President of Operations at Trebas Institute, said: “We are delighted to be working with Number 9 Audio Group. Students are at the heart of all we do, and we strive to provide them with the highest quality of training and skills. I am excited for the benefits that this partnership will bring for our students and look forward to supporting them on their individual learning journeys and equipping them with valuable hands-on experience.”

George Rondina, Managing Director at Number 9 Audio Group, added: “Trebas Institute and Number 9 Sound Studios have become a great team that will instruct the many great recording engineers of the future”.

Established in 1979, Trebas Institute has campuses in both Montreal and Toronto. Trebas has had over 3,000 graduates from over 40 countries. The college is also one of the principal subsidiaries of Global University Systems (GUS), an international network of higher education institutions united by a passion for delivering accessible, industry-relevant credentials.

For more information, visit https://www.trebas.com/.

About Trebas Institute

Trebas Institute offers programs in music, film, business, technology and program management. Their goal is to provide education that gives students a competitive edge in their chosen industry, while constantly updating offerings to keep pace with the changing marketplace.

The campus boasts state-of-the-art equipment for sound and video production, and classes taught by expert instructors with industry experience. All of this prepares students to leave their mark in their chosen field.

Many of Trebas’ alumni have gone on to win major awards and work for leading industry names, like Virgin and Universal Music Group.

About Number 9 Audio Group

Number 9 Audio Group has been providing professional audio services since 1981. Our Toronto recording studio is renowned for music recording with high-profile clients and post-production. We also have complementary departments in pro audio rentals as well as CD duplication graphic design, video production and audio/video transfers.

We also offer what we believe are the area’s best recording courses. A quarter-century of industry experience has allowed us to hone our craft and develop versatile methods to professionally and adequately serve anyone who walks through our doors.

Our main recording studio is comprised of two large, isolated spaces. One is more useful as a ‘general purpose’ space and has three isolation booths inside, while the other was custom-built for our beautiful nine-foot grand piano. If all you need is a quick edit and you don’t require a full-scale recording studio, our production suite will fit the bill without running it up.

 

AI researcher works to integrate useful and safe robots into society

Posted on by Editorial Team

Although robots are designed by people, getting robots to perform useful tasks in a safe manner is an ongoing challenge. In order to teach robots how to perform their desired tasks, researchers like SFU computing science professor Mo Chen design artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to satisfy performance and safety requirements.

“For deep learning-based AI, we try to incorporate prior knowledge about the robots and their environments into learning algorithms so that robots can learn to perform their tasks more quickly,” says Chen.

Finding ways to integrate useful and safe robots into society in a way that assists people is a process that involves working on theory and simulations before experimenting with actual robots. Chen directs the Multi-Agent Robotic Systems Lab at SFU, where he and his team place an emphasis on fundamental, theoretical foundations, in addition to real world implementation.

“Theory is very important for designing algorithms that are guaranteed to be safe and for making learning algorithms more efficient,” says Chen. “To test our theory, we need to do a lot of simulations to make sure that the algorithm is doing what it should be doing. The next challenge is taking what the robots have done in simulations and transferring it to the real world. A lot of times we find that there are differences in the real world from simulation, so we often have to go back and refine what we developed.”

While this process is long and challenging, Chen focuses on the good that this research can do in the future. He sees many ways that robots can have a positive impact on society, whether it is having a robot greet you and help you find items in a store, using drones to help film movies or using robots to gather agricultural data to help people understand the well-being of crops.

For these goals to become a reality, however, there is still a lot of research and testing that needs to be done. Beyond the challenge of designing robots to complete desired tasks, Chen focuses on ensuring that robots are safe while maintaining their usefulness so that people can trust robots. As time goes on, he believes that we will see robots gradually integrate into society as people become more comfortable with them.

For the future, Chen is excited to continue collaborating with other researchers. In addition to his current research, he hopes to train robots to understand their effects on the environment and other agents, and make decisions based on these effects. This will help robots interact more naturally and safely with people.

Trebas Institute showcase academic offer, career opportunities at Canadian Music Week

Posted on by Global University Systems

Trebas Institute recently took part in the Canadian Music Week, held at the Intercontinental Toronto Centre between 6 and 11 June.

Now in its 40th year, Canadian Music Week (CMW) is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries.

Representatives from the Trebas Toronto Campus were present throughout the event, animating the branded booth of the institution and engaging with visitors, industry experts and potential partners. Many people stopped by, to learn about the programmes available and the career opportunities for graduates. In addition, it was heartening to see several Trebas alumni.

“Trebas Institute is delighted to have participated as an exhibitor during the 40th anniversary of Canadian Music Week, the premier annual music business and networking event in Canada,” said Mohamed Slimani, Vice President of Operations at Trebas Institute. “The music summit covered many elements of the entertainment industry, much like the diverse range of specialized training available at Trebas Institute at our campuses in Toronto and Montreal”

As a creative career college, Trebas Toronto campus offers a wide selection of programmes in audio engineering, film and TV production, and event and entertainment management. Expanding on a portfolio mainly dedicated to visual arts and entertainment, the institution also offers programmes in digital marketing, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Gary Taylor, Senior International Consultant from Canadian Music Week said; “We had the pleasure of hosting Trebas Institute as one of our Trade Show participants this year. Besides their booth activity and Mentors Cafe sessions, we worked together to provide 100 custom T-shirts to CMW and Trebas volunteers. Designed by Trebas, they celebrate CMW’s 40th anniversary and Trebas’ pro-active approach to higher education in the music industry and the Entertainment business at large. It was a real pleasure working with the Trebas Team!”

Participation in the event was an occasion for Trebas to showcase its range of courses, and illustrate what skills students can expect to learn and how it would further their professional development. Graham Knipfel, Executive Director, Industry, Training & Indigenous Initiatives at Global University Systems Canada, said: “Thank you to all involved in welcoming back thousands of participants in-person to Canada’s longest-running music industry conference.

“I can say with confidence to those looking to enter this exciting and growing sector through higher education, that those who successfully complete programmes at Trebas Institute can count on gaining applied skills and a competitive edge.”

During the event, Trebas held a Scholarship Raffle prize draw, giving potential students the opportunity to secure scholarships to study at Trebas for a total value of $7,000 (CAD). The winners will be able to use the scholarship against the tuition for Audio Engineering & Production/DJ Arts for the October 2022 and January 2023 intakes.

For Trebas, participation in CMW 2022 marked an important step in further establishing its position. Jeff Wright, Head of Audio Engineering and Production/DJ Arts, said: “It was great to connect with industry peers and prospective students. Toronto is sometimes viewed as the ‘hub’ of the music industry in Canada. With the Trebas Toronto Campus being so close to the venue I was excited to have our students participate. I look forward to the next generation of talent development here in Toronto and right across Canada.

For more information visit https://www.trebas.com/

Trebas Institute

Trebas offers programs in music, film, business, technology, and program management. Their goal is to provide education that gives students a competitive edge in their chosen industry, while constantly updating offerings to keep pace with the changing marketplace.

The campus boasts state-of-the-art equipment for sound and video production, and classes taught by expert instructors with industry experience. All this prepares students to leave their mark in their chosen field.

 

Many of Trebas’ alumni have gone on to win major awards and work for big industry names, like Virgin and Universal Music Group.

Factory Film Studio partners with Trebas Institute Ontario

Posted on by Global University Systems

Trebas Institute Ontario and Factory Film Studio are excited to share they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The objective of the MOU is to express the willingness of the parties to explore new collaborations.

Trebas Institute provides high-quality skills training for creative careers, and as part of Global University Systems Canada (GUS Canada), a network of higher education institutions, is excited to explore new avenues to support student success.

Factory Film Studio (FFS) is a vertically integrated development, production, marketing, sales and distribution company with a catalogue of over 120 feature films from Canada and around the world inspired by a love of filmmaking. Currently, they are producing a feature film titled ‘We Could Be Heroes’, shooting this month in Hamilton, Ontario.

Trebas and FFS share a common interest expanding work-integrated learning. Proposed areas of collaboration may include:

Exploring mentorship, networking and guest speaking opportunities by means of a ‘film studio in residence’ initiative;
Creating a sustainable production model;
Share effective practices, innovations and industry trends, including exposure to the experiences of accomplished film producers, screenwriters, and film executives;
Co-developing customized training programs and/or micro-credentials and/or summer camps for domestic and international learners;
Promoting other applied learning activities to foster mutual understanding and high-quality skills development through academic-industry collaboration.

The ‘film studio in residence’ initiative has the opportunity to integrate Trebas students or alumni in project development, production, post-production, or marketing through (not-for-credit) employment opportunities with FFS. Trebas Institute may also promote employment opportunities and provide referrals when and where available with FFS.

Ehsan Safdari, Managing Director, GUS Canada Colleges Division shared, “Trebas Institute helps our students prepare for work in industry by focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration.”

He believes the ‘film studio in residence’ initiative between Trebas Institute Ontario and Factory Film Studio will allow Trebas students the hands-on experience needed to be successful in the quickly evolving production, post-production and marketing sectors while supporting the local industry with top-tier talent.

Mohamed Slimani, VP of Operations, Trebas Institute, said “Trebas Institute is committed to providing high-quality and accessible education and support services to maximize our students’ success and learning experience.” He continued, “the potential for collaboration, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities between Trebas Institute Ontario and Factory Film Studio is an excellent example of how we plan to make good of that commitment through highly compatible academic and industry collaboration.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Trebas, on this truly ground-breaking initiative, a collaborative way to build the early careers of the next generation of filmmakers in this country. A worthwhile endeavour for all parties and for our industry.”, said Michael Patrick Lilly, Chief Creative Officer, Factory Film Studio.

Cyndi McLeod, GUS Canada CEO, considers the development of high-quality work-integrated learning opportunities is an important step in GUS Canada’s mission to lead the future of education in Canada. “Trebas Institute already has an excellent track record of graduate success with 75% of students securing employment within 6 months of graduation. The collaboration between Trebas Institute Ontario and Factory Film Studio is a win-win.” She stated, “we are excited to be able to offer our skilled and diverse students another opportunity to apply their knowledge in industry before and after graduation.”

Established in 1979, Trebas Institute has campuses in both Montreal and Toronto. Over 3,000 graduates have attended Trebas from over 40 countries, making for a culturally diverse student body. This college is one of the principal subsidiaries of Global University Systems (GUS), an international network of higher education institutions united by a passion for delivering accessible, industry-relevant credentials.

Canadian College of Technology & Business launches six new programmes to develop tech talent

Posted on by Global University Systems

Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) announced the launch of six new programmes designed to address the growing skills gap in the technology sector, as well as provide a potential pathway for international students to immigrate to Canada.

The new programmes are: Diploma in Cybersecurity Risk Management, Diploma in Data Engineering and Analytics, Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Diploma in Software Quality Assurance Engineering, Diploma in User Experience and Interactive Design and Diploma in Business Management.

The programmes provide students with a paid CO-OP component. CCTB’s CO-OP work placement experience represents 50% of the total programme duration. Students will be given the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills within the industry through a guaranteed paid work experience provided by CCTB’s Career Development Centre’s professional network.

Reviewed and approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training, the programmes are currently available for intakes in May and September 2022. The programmes also align with the Government of British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program Tech, also known as BC PNP Tech programme. It was introduced in 2017 to assist BC employers in finding international tech talent to fill positions in in-demand occupations across the province. The CO-OP component of the programmes offered by CCTB gives students with tech and IT skills a unique pathway to immigrate to BC.

Commenting on the launch, Chris Velasco, President of CCTB said: “I am very excited to offer these new programmes to Canadian and international students alike. It is a reflection of CCTB’s continued academic investment to help meet the growing talent needs of an evolving technology sector and prepare a talent pipeline that will drive economic growth in the region and beyond.

“Furthermore, work placement experience offered via these programmes offer students with the practical skills required in the workplace to be able to kickstart their journey and successfully thrive in their chosen career paths. I look forward to welcoming students onboard.”

For more information on the admission requirements, please visit https://www.canadianctb.ca/.