Durham College (DC) has been selected by NEXT Canada, a national non-profit focused on increasing national prosperity by accelerating the development of high potential entrepreneurs and innovators, to provide vital connections between experienced Artificial Intelligence (AI) mentors and students enrolled in the newly launched NextED AI Business Strategy & Application Course. A pilot initiative for NEXT Canada, NextED is powered by Riff Learning, a spin-out company of MIT Media Lab, and is quickly establishing itself as Canada’s premier AI-adoption program for business.

“The profile of the Durham College Hub for Applied Research in Artificial Intelligence for Business Systems has been steadily rising since its launch a little over a year ago,” says Don Lovisa, president, DC. “To now be partnering with NEXT Canada and working alongside other AI experts from MIT and Oxford University, among others, is an incredible testament to our DC team and the work being done in our AI Hub.”

The Next ED AI Business Strategy & Application Course leads students through an intensive eight-week program focused on developing a disruptive AI innovation and learning hands-on techniques to apply AI to a specific business problem. In the last four weeks of the course, as participants develop a business plan for an AI solution, DC will support students by providing them access to mentors who are AI Hub industry partners.

“DC’s AI Hub mentors will bring expertise in really diverse sectors, including customer service, health, real estate, shipping and logistics, agriculture, digital media, finance and education,” says Debbie McKee Demczyk, dean of the college’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “Delivering these mentorship services as part of the NextED course capstone project is an exciting opportunity to further demonstrate and strengthen DC’s leadership in the Canadian AI ecosystem.”

The AI Hub at DC offers industry partners access to technical expertise, state-of-the-art facilities and platforms, and student talent, to help them uncover business insights while providing intelligent and autonomous solutions that increase their company’s productivity and growth.

On February 23 and 24, more than 175 Durham College (DC) students put their classroom and lab training into action and to the test in an intense, two-day emergency simulation exercise at the Oshawa campus.

Bringing together students and employees from the schools of Justice & Emergency Services, Health & Community Services and Media, Art & Design, as well as peers from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, the exercise followed a detailed script that saw volunteers simulate a mass-casualty emergency stemming from an explosion.

Unfolding in real-time, day one was dedicated to the emergency simulation while day two focused on mock trials generated from the previous day’s events. The exercise provided students with valuable experiential learning as well as a better understanding of how members of emergency services, health and social services, legal services and the media work together during an emergency.

Students from the following DC programs participated:

• 9-1-1 Emergency and Call Centre Communications
• Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations ( graduate certificate)
• Emergency Services Fundamentals
• Firefighter – Pre-service, Education and Training
• Fitness and Health Promotion
• Gerontology – Activation Co-ordination (graduate certificate)
• Journalism – Mass Media
• Paralegal
• Paralegal (graduate certificate)
• Paramedic
• Paramedic – Advanced Care (graduate certificate)
• Practical Nursing
• Police Foundations
• Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees
• Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas
• Protection, Security and Investigation
• Social Service Worker

On February 22, more than 135 Durham College (DC) alumni, employees and students spent the evening at the Tribute Communities Centre, watching the Oshawa Generals take on the Mississauga Steelheads during the college’s annual Alumni Night.

Held each year, Alumni Night at the Oshawa Generals is a chance for DC the DC community to come together to reconnect over some great hockey and a private reception.

Linda Flynn, DC’s associate vice-president, Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and Michele Roberts, president of the DC Alumni Association, represented the college during the ceremonial puck drop. Never one to miss out on a sporting event, DC mascot Lord Durham also got into the action by giving away t-shirts and hats to the crowd.

DC also sponsored the intermission entertainment, testing the knowledge of game goers with college-related trivia.

The evening was capped off with a win by the Generals.

From February 4 to 9, Durham College (DC) took part in Global Affairs Canada’s International Development Week (IDW). Held to celebrate Canadian contributions to poverty reduction and international humanitarian assistance in the developing world, this year’s IDW theme at DC was “Together for Equality.”

The college’s International Office organized a number of events for the campus community to mark IDW with a focus on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.

A non-profit marketplace took place in The Pit on February 4, giving students the opportunity to meet representatives from local and international non-governmental agencies and community based organizations to learn about internships, volunteer placements and causes to get involved with.

February 5 saw students and employees gather for a screening of the movie I Am, a documentary from the director of Bruce Almighty and Ace Ventura, where intellectual and spiritual leaders discuss global challenges and what we can do to address them.

On February 6 DC graduates living and working overseas came together in real-time, thanks to the college’s Global Classroom, to discuss how their experiences have changed their view of the world and their role in it.

The week ended with a screening of the Kenya Education for Employment Program (KEFEP) documentary. Captured, scripted, edited and produced by four DC students and two faculty, the crew spent three weeks in Kenya documenting KEFEP, a five-year initiative funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada focused on strengthening and supporting technical and vocational education and training in Kenya.

International projects at DC are tied to the SDGs and the college’s Internationalization and Global Engagement Plan, which clarifies its global vision for the next three years. The plan provides a foundation for students, employees, communities, and industry partners to understand how DC will infuse internationalization and global engagement into the fabric of the institution and help students learn locally and engage globally.

Of the importance of IDW, Bogumila Anaya, manager of International Projects and Partnerships at DC said, “Canada has made a commitment to the 17 UN SDGs to build a more peaceful and environmentally-balanced planet for everyone. International Development Week gives us a chance to showcase some of the work the college is doing on those fronts while also raising global awareness within the DC community.”

Prospective students and their families got a closer look at some of Durham College’s (DC) unique programs at the Program Information Night held on February 11 at the Oshawa and Whitby campuses.

The interactive event provided attendees with an opportunity to tour DC’s signature learning spaces and have their questions answered by knowledgeable faculty and staff.

Among the event’s highlighted programs were the new Carpentry and Renovation Technician diploma, which offers a co-operative education option, and the diploma-to-degree business programs offered jointly by DC and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

For those who missed Program Information Night or who want to learn more about the DC student experience, the college’s annual Spring Open House will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Durham College (DC) students are working hard to gain the education and skills needed to succeed post-graduation. As part of its commitment to preparing students for the workforce and connecting them with employers, DC’s Career Development office organized a two week-long Career-a-thon from January 29 to February 8.

During the event, students had access to job fairs at both the Oshawa and Whitby campuses, various workshops aimed at aiding students in the job application process, a Speed-Networking Hub and discussion panel on women in trades – providing students with a diverse selection of events to help them make the leap from campus to career.

This year, the annual day-long Job Fair at the Oshawa campus brought in over 75 potential employers for students and alumni to meet, including those currently hiring for part-time, summer and seasonal work. Held on February 5 in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, organizations represented a mix of economic sectors, including business, community services, manufacturing, skilled trades, information technology, engineering, health care, hospitality and justice.

On February 7, students also had access to the Tradesmart Career Fair at the Whitby campus, which brought in 25 employers specifically recruiting students for jobs in the skilled trades.

DC’s Career Development office provides support for all things career-related at the college. The Career Development team offers a range of services including support for career exploration, resumé building and cover letter writing, interviewing skills and job search strategies.

For more information visit www.durhamcollege.ca/careerdevelopment.

Two Durham College (DC) graduates returned to campus on February 5, meeting with students to discuss their careers and life after graduation during the annual Alumni in the Pit event.

This year’s event featured Melissa Farrow, who graduated from the college’s Social Service Worker program in 2009 and the Child and Youth Worker program (now Child and Youth Care), in 2011. Joining her was James Hammond, a 2006 graduate of DC’s Business Administration, Management and Operations program (now Supply Chain and Operations – Business).

Melissa Farrow:

Melissa Farrow is a program co-ordinator at Hospital for Sick Children where she provides direct service and care for kids and their families in the Psychiatry Day Hospital Program. Her role includes counselling through individual, group and family therapy following a cognitive behavioural therapy informed approach, developing individualized care plans, completing psychosocial assessments for psychiatry program referrals and coordinating placements for post-secondary students studying in child and youth counsellor programs. In addition, Melissa supports her alma mater and its students by acting as a field practicum advisor and professor.

Noting the importance of networking, she urged students to take odd jobs, connect with people in their field and volunteer, not just for their resume but for the sake of learning and giving back.

James Hammond:

James Hammond is the managing director of Cleeve Technology Inc. (Cleeve), a high-tech, innovative company in the electrical interconnect sector of the aerospace and defence industries worldwide. There he oversees all business operations within North America.  

Having started at Cleeve during his program placement, he was subsequently hired upon graduation and started working in the purchasing department. Thus began his 13-year career with the company as he climbed the ranks to his current position.

Given his own career path, James emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and keeping an open mind, of not being too proud to learn the basics and listening to your gut and leaning on your strengths. He also reiterated the role of networking in successfully navigating your career.

Alumni in the Pit is part of DC’s backpack2Briefcase program, a series of events designed to help students and recent alumni make a smooth transition from college to the workplace. Events and workshops are held throughout the year to offer opportunities for both personal and professional development that will enhance the skills and training students learn in the classroom.

The co-chairs of the annual campus holiday food drive are extending their sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the 2018 initiative a resounding success.

A longstanding campus tradition, the drive provides hampers and financial assistance to Durham College (DC) and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (the university) student families in need.

“This yearly initiative is such an important one for our students,” says Lori Russell, manager of Information and Client Services – Office of the Registrar for the university and a co-chair of the drive. “When you have a student in your office who is struggling to afford the day-to-day necessities of life and is worried about providing for their children over the holidays – this type of assistance can be extremely impactful for the student and their family.”

“The success of the holiday food drive would not be possible without everyone who came together for this great cause,” says Russell’s co-chair, Kevin Griffin, a professor in DC’s School of Justice & Emergency Services. “Whether you donated non-perishable food items, packed boxes or spread the word about this great initiative – it all made a difference thanks to a strong group effort from students and employees at both institutions. I’m proud to say that we were able to pack and distribute 105 hampers.”

The campus holiday food drive is organized annually by DC, the university, the Kinsmen Club of Oshawa, UOIT Student Union and Durham College Students Inc.

On January 16, Durham College (DC) celebrated the launch of the e-book, Active Learning Strategies for Higher Education.

A collaborative project through the Centre for Higher Education Research, Policy and Practice (CHERPP), the practical handbook was written by 12 post-secondary education practitioners from DC, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Technological University (TU) Dublin to provide educators with valuable strategies for improving classroom engagement to deliver an enriched student experience.

DC president Don Lovisa kicked off the book launch by congratulating all of those involved. Joining him in giving remarks were Dairmuid O’Callaghan, principal, TU Dublin, Blanchardstown Campus; Robert Bailey, interim provost and vice-president, Academic, University of Ontario Institute of Technology; and Cormac Doran, head, CHERPP.