Life moves fast. Technologies and trends are in constant flux, and employers seeking skilled graduates need assurances that potential hires are equipped with relevant, up-to-date skills. George Brown College (GBC) future-proofs our programs and graduates by working directly with industry to ensure the skills you learn are the ones you need to land a job in your field of study.
According to the World Economic Forum, industry transformation spurred by artificial intelligence and other technologies could disrupt 23 per cent of global jobs in the next five years. By working closely with leading employers like Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Rogers, CIBC, the University Health Network, and many others, we get an inside track on developments in the field to provide industry-informed learning in and out of the classroom.
At GBC, our programs are informed by industry experts — every academic division includes program advisory committees. These committees always include community leaders and employers at the forefront of their fields — more than 1,300 in total — who participate in program development to ensure the curriculum reflects current and future industry needs.
“Lacking the required education and experience to land a first or new job is a frustrating experience for recent graduates. When George Brown College students finish their programs, they embark on their job search with a professional network and practical experience on their resumés,” said Dr. Eileen De Courcy, George Brown’s Vice-President Academic.
“The ingredients new professionals need for future success are baked into our programs. A George Brown College education emphasizes experience, resilience, and lifelong learning to adapt to an ever-changing workforce.”
GBC aims to prepare students for success in a future workforce rooted in human services and technology. The college plays a vital role in promoting innovation and helping Canadians upskill in high-growth sectors, including information and communications technology.
Programs that embed industry involvement
Nearly all programs include work-integrated learning (WIL) to ensure students get real-world experience through co-ops, field placements, labs, simulations, on-campus incubators or capstone projects. GBC takes industry involvement to the next level by embedding programs in industry environments and co-delivering programs with leading professional organizations, including in the following ways:
- Students in our orthotics and prosthetics programs at the Centre for Health Sciences attend classes at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where they learn and work alongside professionals in the field.
- Students at our Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing gain real-world experience in clinical placements at some of Canada’s largest hospitals, clinics and health-care organizations.
- GBC operates a network of 13 licensed child care centres serving over 500 children and their families across Toronto. Students at our School of Early Childhood develop skills and learn to work with families in these industry environments, which we call lab schools.
- Chef School students in our Italian and Advanced French Patisserie postgraduate programs develop skills with our renowned partner culinary institutions over a semester and gain work experience in kitchens and boulangeries in Europe.
- All postgraduate programs at the School of Computer Technology offer a work-integrated learning term. GBC is a Cisco Networking Academy member and enjoys partnerships with many other leading organizations, including Rogers Wireless, Telus Mobility, and Public Health Ontario.
- Our longstanding partnerships with the biggest players in the construction industry, including Tridel, create invaluable networking and field placement opportunities.
- GBC offers the only post-secondary dance program with a direct partnership with Canada’s Jörgen Dance, and our theatre students study at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, a building we share with longtime partner Soulpepper Theatre Company.
Supporting Toronto’s tech sector
GBC delivers programs to directly support Toronto’s technology sector. Programs at the School of Computer Technology, including Applied AI Solutions Development, Blockchain Development, Cyber Security, and Health Informatics, contribute to the impressive talent pool that makes Toronto a global hub for technology and innovation (the third largest in North America).
The future of business
This year, the college’s Centre for Business launched new programs and partnerships with an eye trained on future needs in various fields. We developed the one-year Wealth Management program with Cumberland Private Wealth Management and Infinite Investment Systems Ltd., to address demand for trained client management and operations professionals.
“Our industry relationships mean success for our students. These partnerships directly inform the programs we offer and ensure the skills we teach are the ones our graduates will use in the field,” said Dr. Ian Austin, Dean of George Brown College’s Centre for Business.
“We launched seven new business programs over the past year that reflect the latest industry developments. These programs provide graduates with a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge and industry experience. With a broad credential mix, graduates can return and gain new skills to complement their previous education.”
The new Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Supply Chain Management) program prepares students for a technology-driven career in global sourcing and procurement, transportation and distribution, production management, business planning, and supply chain analysis and logistics.
The Centre for Business also launched three postgraduate programs in People Analytics, Financial Services – Investment Analysis and Financial Services – Compliance and Risk, an Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Digital Marketing, and a Financial Planning certificate.
The perks of being the official college of the Toronto Raptors
As the official (and first) college partner of the Toronto Raptors, we have a special connection to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). The partnership means increased access to Toronto’s NBA franchise for GBC students. This could include behind-the-scenes tours and engaging with the Raptors on and off the court. Recently, GBC students stood at centre court at the Raptors’ home at Scotiabank Arena to film a Centre for Business ad shown on television and online. GBC and MLSE already enjoy a longstanding partnership, and approximately 200 graduates have worked with the company.
How our location impacts future opportunities
When we say, “The city is our classroom,” we mean it. Our campuses in downtown Toronto are a short distance from the city’s financial district, “hospital-row” on University Avenue — home to large health-care providers and research organizations — and a thriving restaurant scene and tourism industry, surrounded by tech startups and exciting construction projects.
This paid advertisement appeared in the National Post on September 24, 2024, and on innovatingcanada.ca.
