Durham College’s recent Open House aimed to let students know how they can transfer from diploma programs into degree programs while gaining hands-on experience.
The event helps students to understand how their studies can be continued after completing college or while being in the course as well.
The event also helped students to know how practical learning plays an important role for future careers.
Maddie Gulenchyn, a client support and engagement representative with the Transfer Services team at Durham College, explained how pathway programs support students in continuing their education.
“Most of our pathway programs are really great at helping students move from a diploma into a degree” she said. “In the sense that they come to Durham College and get hands-on experience and then they’re prepared for university learning.”
Gulenchyn said pathway agreements between colleges and universities allow students to transfer credits instead of starting over.
“So, for example, with some Ontario Tech programs, students are getting, doing two years at Durham College and then doing two years of a four-year degree and graduate with a bachelor’s degree,” she added. “They’re really just doing four years of school and getting double the credentials.”
Gulenchyn added that transfer credits depend on a student’s previous education, but they can help reduce course loads and save time.
“If you’ve completed previous courses with at least 60 per cent or the passing grade, they can be recognized for prior education,” she said.
Along with academic pathways, the Open House also showed opportunities for students to gain real-world experience through applied research.
Colleen McKay, manager of the Social Impact Hub at Durham College, explained how these projects connect students with the community.
“We run projects that focus on working with community agencies to address challenges they face,” she said. “We use applied research to find solutions that will benefit the community.”
McKay said students are involved as applied research assistants and work on real projects while studying.
“We involve students from different programs depending on the project needs,” she mentioned. “We’ve hired students from [Media, Art and Design] to create videos and social media campaigns, and computer science students for programming work.”
She said these experiences help students build skills that go beyond the classroom.
“This opportunity that we can provide for the students really does a good job of giving them the skillset that they need to complete the curriculum especially if you go into a degree.” she said.
Mohammad Shamas, who is a co-ordinator of Computer Programming at Durham College, explained that many programs include placements that allow students to gain real-world experience before graduating.
“In the final weeks of the program, students go into a placement and gain hands-on experience,” he said. “There are also many project-based courses, so learning is not just theoretical.”
He added that co-op opportunities depend on a student’s academic performance, but support is available to help students prepare.