YORK UNIVERSITY AND CALIAN LAUNCH
NON-CREDIT IT COURSES IN CONTINUING EDUCATION TO HELP BRIDGE THE
GAP FROM SCHOOL TO WORK
Kanata, May 8th, 2000 - York University
today launched a series of non-credit, Information Technology
courses to be delivered via the Internet targeted at both students
and individuals already in the workforce with the computer skills
they need in today's job market.
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 3 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 become 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
Director, Continuing Education
Atkinson College
York University
(416) 209-5801
Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
York University
Greg Strong
Vice President
Communications & Government Relations
Calian
Telephone: (613) 599-8600
Fax: (613) 592-7771
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