On January 21, Durham College (DC) Human Resources Management graduate certificate student Daniela Rojano was recognized with the Outstanding Student, HRPA Scholarship Award from the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA). The scholarship is presented to an outstanding student member enrolled in part-time or full-time studies in the association’s required academic courses who also demonstrates a financial need.

Rojano’s success spans from Mexico to Canada with Rojano deciding to further her post-secondary education at DC in 2015.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration from Technological University of Mexico in 2004 she gained significant human resources experience through a multitude of positions, eventually landing a leadership role as a human resources business partner and organizational development manager at PepsiCo. Despite holding a steady and rewarding job in Mexico, Rojano felt the need to expand her existing knowledge in the ever-changing field of human resources (HR).

After visiting the DC Oshawa campus, she became confident that the college’s Human Resources Management graduate certificate was the perfect fit. With the support of her husband and two young sons and with a commitment to continuous learning in mind she packed up her family and moved to Whitby, Ont.

“The role of human resource professionals has evolved since I began my career,” said Rojano. “In addition to being knowledgeable experts on topics such as compensation, labour relations, managerial accounting and occupational health and safety, HR professionals have the opportunity to add value to an organization by speaking the same business language to engage and influence business partners. I am inspired by the constant challenges in this field.”

In addition to maintaining high academic standards, Rojano also volunteers her time as a member of the Professional Development Committee of the HRPA Durham Chapter, a group committed to providing opportunities for learning and developing new competencies for HR professionals. After completing an internship at Teva Canada as part of her program, she was hired as a senior human resources generalist.

Rojano received her award at HRPA’s Annual Conference & Tradeshow, Canada’s largest human resources conference, attracting HR and business professionals from around the world. Taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the three-day event featured keynote speakers, informative sessions, more than 240 exhibitors and an opportunity to network with others in the industry.

“The first time I visited Durham College I was impressed by the supports and services available to me on campus,” said Rojano. “In my experience as a student, I am continually amazed by the passionate and knowledgeable professors who are always willing to help.”

DC’s Human Resources Management graduate certificate is designed for individuals with previous post-secondary education or relevant work experience. Students enhance their knowledge and abilities, enabling them to contribute to business success in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.

The demand for mechanical engineers in the challenging industrial environment is growing. In fact, in 2014, 79 per cent of Durham College (DC) Mechanical Engineering Technology students found employment in a related field after graduation according to the college’s Graduate Employment Report.

Using the skills they acquired at DC, a number of these graduates are carving out careers at Thinkpath Engineering Services (Ontario) Inc. (Thinkpath), a global leader in engineering and design services. In 2013, Eddie Riby, an engineering account manager at Thinkpath met with several students in the third year of DC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program. Impressed by their strong familiarity with the computer-aided design (CAD) software currently being used by Thinkpath, Riby has hired 14 DC graduates since that initial meeting.

“I find that Durham College graduates have a good foundation of 3D modelling and drafting skills,” said Riby. “During the program, students are trained using Siemens NX, the CAD software we use at Thinkpath Engineering Services. Having an understanding of this software before graduation is an asset they can build throughout their design career with Thinkpath.”

One of the DC alumni who joined the Thinkpath team is Riley Tomiuck, a 2014 Mechanical Engineering Technology program graduate. There he uses the skills he acquired during his time DC to provide mechanical design services to several clients. In addition, he delivers technical presentations outlining engineering issues he is responsible for discovering and resolving for clients. 

“The professors at DC really went above and beyond my expectations,” said Tomiuck. “In addition to facilitating hands-on training, they inspired us by sharing their extensive knowledge, personal experiences and advice. Our professors also passed along interview tips, which made me far more confident when job searching.”

The college’s Mechanical Engineering Technology program prepares graduates to work both independently and as part of an engineering team to provide technical support and service in fields such as manufacturing, construction and energy generation. In the third year of the program, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and problem-solving skills in the college’s 8,000-square-foot Integrated Manufacturing Centre, a world-class training facility located at the Oshawa campus.

Each year, Durham College supports the York Region Secondary School Mock Trial Competition held at the Newmarket Courthouse. 24 high schools compete by conducing mock trials before Judges in the Superior Court of Justice.

This year, Stephanie Ball, executive dean of the School of Justice & Emergency Services and School of Interdisciplinary Studies, joined the coordinating committee comprised of the Chief Justice of Ontario, the Crown Attorney for York Region, Senior Regional Chief Justice of Ontario, and York Region Deputy Chief of Police. 

Durham College (DC) students from the Paralegal program were thanked by Ball for inspiring high school students as she opened the ceremonies. In her speech, she shared the stories of how students often pursue a career in the field of justice because of these mock trials.

Current DC student Andrew Keeping participated in the competition when he was in high school and credits the experience with leading him to DC and the Paralegal program.

“I would say that my experience with the mock trial was incredibly educational and beneficial in many ways. The most apparent way was that I benefited from the competitive nature of the event and I really enjoyed interacting with real legal professionals and real judges, in a real courtroom.  You can’t get more real than that,” said Keeping.

Tasif Chowdhury, also a DC Paralegal student was unsure as a high school student if pursuing an education in law was the right option for him, the mock trial helped convince him it was the correct choice.

“When I decided to join the Mock Trial team in high school I was unsure of how much I really enjoyed law. But, after having worked with lawyers to prepare for the trial and having the experience of being in a court room, I ended up changing my mind. Being involved with the mock trial was actually fun, and only confirmed my interest in pursuing a career within the legal field.  Now at Durham College, I continue to gain all of the skills needed to succeed. There is nothing more empowering than the knowledge I have gained in this program and looking back I now know I made the right choice,” said Chowdhury.

The mock trials were created to help high school students develop their interest in the legal field while exposing them to a fully integrated, hands-on experience. DC supported the event administratively through Professor Burger, a lawyer teaching in the paralegal program, and Nicole Davidson, Student Recruitment and Admission Services.

DC’s Paralegal program is accredited by The Law Society of Upper Canada (Law Society), the regulatory body governing professional paralegals in the province. The program prepares students for the Law Society’s paralegal licensing examination, enabling them to provide legal services within authorized areas of law practice and represent clients before Small Claims Court, Criminal Court (summary convictions), Provincial Offences Court and government tribunals.

Although Canada’s need for skilled workers is no secret, according to Statistics Canada women’s representation in the trades remains low, accounting for only five per cent of all skilled trades workers in the country. To help fill this gap, Durham College (DC) will launch a new, all-women Elevating Devices Mechanic (EDM) pre-apprenticeship training program at the end of February.

“Ontario is expecting to see a high demand for skilled workers such as elevator constructors/mechanics and crane operators over the next 10 years,” said Christine Murphy, manager, Access Programs and Employment Services, DC. “These professions offer exceptional opportunities for employment yet women are still not entering them in any significant number. We want to get the word out about these careers, encourage women to pursue them and prepare our students to seize these opportunities in the job market.”

The need for certified EDMs is high due to the ongoing high-rise boom in cities, aging infrastructure in need of modernization and increased safety and maintenance standards. EDM is also one of many skilled trades facing a transitioning workforce as baby boomers retire in record numbers.

As one of only two organizations in Ontario to offer an EDM apprenticeship program, DC is known for its training expertise in this area, making the women’s EDM pre-apprenticeship program a natural fit for the college.

Through the program, which will see up to 15 women enrolled in full-time studies, students complete the in-school apprenticeship training for EDM Level 1; gain exposure to a secondary trade through an Industrial Mechanic Millwright course; and gain industry experience through a placement opportunity. Students will also receive safety and workplace preparedness training tailored for women entering a skilled trade.

To deliver this training, DC is partnering with the Microskills Community Development Centre (MCDC). MCDC will instruct students on a variety of topics, including recognizing and responding to unsafe scenarios; personal integrity and ethical practices; maintaining personal and professional boundaries; forms of harassment and strategies to address the situation; problem solving for work-life balance conflicts; and job mobility and developing leadership potential.

The program is being funded through the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, which seeks to increase the number of new participants enrolled in apprenticeship programs while addressing skilled-trade shortages.