Learning new skills can open endless career opportunities. Continuing education ensures you can stay on top of industry demands, advances in technology, and new creative strategies. It also allows you to network with diverse peers, gain confidence, and improve your job marketability.
The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) offers convenient and flexible learning experiences so you can learn on your terms. Accelerated options and an admission-free process means you can reach your goals faster.
Earn a certificate, prepare for a designation, upgrade your skills, or make a bold career change. Continuing education will enrich your life and transform your career. Below, four learners share their journey.
Ana Fukushima
Senior IT Security Consultant, eHealth Ontario
Ana earned a designation.
When Ana Fukushima came to Canada in 2016, she immediately began pursuing her Cyber Security Management Certificate at SCS. “When we decided to relocate, I began researching opportunities to enhance my skills and gain a certification in my field: information security,” says Fukushima. Her first goal was to become a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), awarded by ISACA. “The certificate at SCS is aligned with the CISM curriculum, so it was the perfect way to upgrade my skills, earn a certificate, and prepare for the CISM exam all at the same time.
While the certificate definitely helped Fukushima prepare, she found networking with her peers and instructors to be the most valuable aspect of her experience at SCS. “I am in touch with many of my classmates and instructors to this day. We reach out to one another with questions and job opportunities,” she says.
Within six months of completing her certificate, she earned her CISM certification. While completing her CISM, she was hired by eHealth Ontario in cybersecurity operations where she later found another job as a Senior IT Security Consultant. Today, Fukushima is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and is thrilled about the opportunities that await in the future.
Shahriar Reza
Manager – Performance Analytics, BMO Financial Group
Shar upgraded his skills.
“Today, I’m more confident communicating insights from complex data to stakeholders,” states Shar Reza, who recently completed our Business Presentation and Public Speaking course. He began his career as a Data Analyst at BMO Financial. After being promoted to Manager of Performance Analytics, his role expanded to include stakeholder communication.
“In this new position, I was presenting to a variety of audiences, including senior leaders and colleagues who were not data experts,” he recalls. “I wanted to refine my ability to tailor presentations and share analytic insights in a clear and approachable way.”
Coming to SCS was the right move — Reza quickly learned how to develop strategies to simplify complicated data and present it to diverse audiences. “My improved presentation skills allow me to showcase data in a way that is accessible for everyone, and earn stakeholder buy-in,” he adds.
Reza’s new abilities now stretch beyond the office. His business communication skills help him network and build connections at conferences and group meetings. “My instructor taught me key concepts when speaking at an executive level,” he says. “Instruction from an industry expert made all the difference. It wasn’t theoretical; it was real-life learning.”
Continuing education can go beyond career enhancement. Surprising opportunities can come from a personal journey or a need for healing.
Larry Chan
Auditor, Office of the Auditor General of Ontario
Larry made a career change.
“The army taught me teamwork, communication, and how to lead by example,” notes Larry Chan. “These skills shaped me into a soldier, the person that I am today, and the business professional that I’m aspiring to be.”
Chan started his military career as an infantry soldier in the reserves. After transferring from the infantry to become a medic in the army, he eventually joined the Special Forces. When his term of service came to an end, he decided to focus on spending more time with his family and launching a new career. “I wanted to arm myself with the tools to succeed. That’s why I came to SCS,” he explains.
He decided to pursue his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation, taking CPA preparatory courses at SCS. “The program was very flexible and gave me the opportunity to learn quickly and efficiently,” Chan recalls. “It connected me with expert instructors who acted as mentors and helped shape my career.”
Today, Chan is an Auditor in the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario and aims to complete his CPA in 2021. “I want to actively contribute to society by having a fulfilling career and continuing to serve,” he says. He aims to earn an MBA and continue growing as the accounting industry evolves.
Ariel Ng Bourbonnais
Co-Author & Co-Editor – Through, Not Around: Stories of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss, Dundurn Press
Ariel published a book.
“My whole writing career is based on making lemonade out of lemons,” says Ariel Ng Bourbonnais. At 33, after losing her first pregnancy at 8 weeks, Ng Bourbonnais was diagnosed with Low AMH, meaning she had a low egg reserve for her age. To process her pain, she turned to creative writing. “I heard that writing about your feelings could help. Next thing I knew, I was hooked,” she recalls.
While completing her Certificate in Creative Writing, Ng Bourbonnais wrote about her personal experience with fertility issues, which affect approximately 16% of Canadians trying to conceive*.
Her instructor and mentor, who is a published author, played an important role in guiding her writing. Meanwhile, Ng Bourbonnais and two friends co-founded The 16 Percent, an online community dedicated to providing a safe space for couples and individuals to share their infertility and pregnancy loss stories.
Recently, Ng Bourbonnais published a book of essays with her co-founders titled Through, Not Around: Stories of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss. “The Creative Writing program taught me how to present and edit my work, incorporate feedback into my writing, critique others’ writing, and provide feedback,” she expresses. “Learning at SCS has sparked my creativity and there’s no turning back.”
