RRU provides groundbreaking tourism sector education

To meet a growing demand for skilled tourism professionals the Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at Royal Roads University is promoting two graduate-level certificate programs, the first of their kind in Canada.

British Columbia’s tourism industry projects it will need 84,000 more tourism professionals by 2015. Meanwhile, up to one-third of the tourism industry leaders in senior and executive positions in the province could be retired by 2011.

Dr. Brian White, director of the School of Tourism and Hotel Management

Dr. Brian White, director of RRU’s School of Tourism and Hotel Management, says the graduate certificate programs will go a long way to close the mounting skills gap in B.C.’s hospitality sector, a need being felt right across Canada.

Designed for owners, managers, executives, educators and operators across the hospitality and tourism sectors, the new Graduate Certificate in Tourism Leadership begins 22 October 2007, followed by the Graduate Certificate in Destination Development on 14 January 2008.

Both six-month programs blend a short residency at Royal Roads University with online course work, allowing tourism professionals to remain in their hometowns and workplaces while advancing their careers.

“B.C.’s tourism sector is expected to go full-steam ahead for the next decade. The province needs highly motivated, highly skilled tourism workforce to stay competitive in the global tourism market,” says White. “The graduate certificate in destination development and tourism leadership will give students a timely, relevant education and the tools they need to stay on top in this intensely competitive industry.”

These short programs are added to the already popular Master of Arts degree in International Hotel Management which will begin its next intake in October 2007, is also the first of its kind in Canada.

Nancy Arsenault, dean of RRU’s faculty of tourism and hotel management, says the program responds to the many demands by the industry.

“These programs give learners a chance to make themselves marketable to the world. We have incorporated significant input from an industry advisory committee and have recruited experienced faculty who bring real-world perspective to learning,” Arsenault said. “One of our strengths is that our instructors are both academically qualified and have practical experience.”

For information on these and other tourism and hospitality programs at Royal Roads University, go to the faculty of tourism and hotel management web pages or call 1-877-778-6227.

RRU continuing studies courses offer learning journeys at home and abroad

From the Caribbean to Cougar Annie’s garden, learners enrolling in this year’s continuing studies programs will be stepping out of the classroom and into the environment.

Going into its second year, the RRU continuing studies calendar includes more than 200 non-credit courses in professional advancement, personal enrichment, the Arts. Another Green Learning series will focus on environmental issues, climate change, and how people can lead more sustainable lives.

Among the topics covered this year is a course on the media and environmental art to be held on Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, while another includes a four-day trip to Cougar Annie’s garden in Clayoquot Sound and the site of the Boat Basin Foundation’s Temperate Rainforest Field Study Centre led by artist and environmentalist Robert Bateman and RRU environmental science professor Rick Kool, who will guide participants in an exploration of the area’s eco-systems and biodiversity from the perspective of both art and science.

Even when students stay in the classroom, they’ll be leaving traditional learning behind with courses such as community map making, an orientation on working in the B.C. film industry and wild weddings – a course that uses native greens and wildflowers to create eco-friendly wedding décor.

The Continuing Studies department is also launching three new non-credit management certificate programs designed for front-line supervisors, middle managers and senior managers. Other new offerings include online courses in essay and technical writing, editing, APA style and accounting. These courses are open to the public but also support learners at Royal Roads who want to strengthen their core academic skills.

“We welcome everyone to participate in trans-disciplinary learning,” says continuing studies director Hilary Leighton. “Our programs help incubate ideas, explore new paths, and build friendships and networks. And underpinning everything we do is a commitment to create a more sustainable existence on this earth, which is after all the source of all we can achieve.”

RRU continuing studies calendars can be found in locations throughout Greater Victoria, including the RRU Recreation Centre and Hatley Castle. For more information on Continuing Studies courses, check the Continuing Studies web pages.

Online tool aimed at immigrants entering Canada’s environmental sector

The Canadian Centre for Environmental Education at RRU is launching an online resource centre in an effort to help immigrants enter the environmental labour market in Canada faster.

The new online resource centre includes a database of environmental job postings, up-to-date research on industry trends, and a network of over 2,000 employers.

“The employer network is perhaps the most important resource because recent labour market studies we have conducted show that 37 per cent of immigrants lack social networks to assist them in finding employment,” said Grant Trump, president and CEO of ECO Canada (Environmental Careers Organization). The new online resource centre will not only address that challenge but also offer immigrants and new Canadians the necessary information to prepare a resume, to make contacts with employers and to be generally ‘job-ready’.

ECO Canada and Royal Roads University jointly sponsor the Canadian Centre for Environmental Education. The federally-funded initiative aims to offer education, training, professional development and accreditation for members of the environmental professions – whose sector is the fastest growing in Canada.

The certificate program’s concentrations are based on standards set by the industry to ensure that training matches the needs of employers. It is delivered via the Internet, providing flexibility to those working full-time or who have other commitments. Its distance-based format allows potential immigrants to complete the program from abroad, preparing them to begin a meaningful environmental career immediately upon entering Canada.

For more information about the services offered by The Canadian Centre for Environmental Education, visit www.ccee.ca or contact the centre at info@ccee.ca