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York University and Calian Launch Non-credit IT Courses in Continuing Education to Help Bridge the Gap from School to Work
Called the Internet-based Information Technology Program in the Continuing Education division of York's Atkinson College, it offers non-credit courses that can be taken individually or combined in a comprehensive program of IT training.
"This puts York University in the forefront of distance learning for IT skills and certifications," said Prof. Paul Evans, Director of Continuing Education at Atkinson College. "Most instruction of this kind is still textbook and classroom-based. The materials used in our program have been designed at the outset as Internet courses," said Evans.
Individual courses range from three to 30 hours and cost from $100 to $1,000; complete programs range from $1,400 for a Web certification program, to about $6,300 for the more demanding Microsoft designations. Among the offerings are Design and Publishing, Windows and Web programming, IT Management, Java, Oracle, and certifications for Lotus and Microsoft.
The Internet program is being developed and delivered by Calian and will be marketed by Atkinson College. Calian will develop the learning management system and will source content through world-class suppliers like Productivity Point International (PPI). York's Division of Continuing Education and PPI are already collaborating in a classroom-based, non-credit certification program designed to prepare students for IT careers.
"This is an excellent example of the power of partnerships and a further confirmation of Calian's business direction," stated Justin Ferrabee, Vice President E-Business. "This partnership represents an important step for both York and Calian. York is just one of our strategic content partners behind the future of Calian's e-learning business."
The program's Web site (http://yorku.ppican.com/) offers individualized assessment of students, an online classroom for each course, chat rooms, tutorials, real-time reporting and tracking, and real-time billing and invoicing. Students can study on their own time, any time of day or night, and telephone mentoring is provided in some courses. "This course establishes a bridge between students and graduates and employment in IT," said Evans, adding that distance delivery over the Internet is a logical extension of the program, offering quick and very focussed professional development for both students and people already in the work force.
York expects to market about 200 complete certification programs and 1,000 additional individual course enrolments over the Internet by April 2001, and plans to market the program across Canada. Calian (TSE:CTY) is a leading professional and technical services company helping customers becomes more successful through three strategic offerings: e-Business solutions, Human Asset Management solutions, and Systems Engineering solutions.
Calian's e-Business solutions focus on helping clients take advantage of new e-business technologies to leverage their knowledge capital, and make their workforces more productive and better informed. Human Asset Management solutions give our clients the ability to exercise critical workforce control. Systems Engineering provides leading-edge communications infrastructures to the telecommunications and government sectors.
Ranking among the top professional services organizations in Canada, Calian has annual revenues of more than $100 million and a staff base of more than 2200. Investing in new markets and new opportunities, our international presence now exceeds to over 14 countries on six continents.
The Division of Continuing Education of Atkinson College offers 15 non-degree certificate programs, professional examination preparatory programs, pre-university courses and personal and professional enrichment courses. Enrolment in these programs has more than doubled -- to more than 2,000 -- in the past three years. Many of Atkinson's Continuing Education activities are conducted in collaboration with other universities, companies and professional associations.
For further information, please contact:
Prof. Paul Evans
Greg Strong
Susan Bigelow
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