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Dal GradPD

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Get career ready

Dal GradPD is your go-to hub to learn about professional development designed for your specific needs as a graduate student. Together with partners across the university and external providers, the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) assembles an ongoing schedule of free workshops and events aimed to help you prepare for a diversity of careers.

The four pillars of the Dal GradPD program are dedicated to building skills necessary for success in any career - Communication, Career Intelligence, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership - and are offered exclusively to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Upcoming Dal GradPD workshops and experiential learning

Exploring Careers Paths with CIRTL Alumni
Dates: April 3 - 24, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. (Atlantic Time) (Registration closes April 24)
Partner: Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL)
Pillars: Career Intelligence
Event type: Virtual

Working with the Media, with National Public Relations
Dates: April 22, 2024, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Registration closes April 19, 2024, at 9 a.m.)
Partner: OpenThink
Pillars: Communication
Event type: In-person

90 minutes with a graphic designer
Dates: April 29, 2024, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. (Registration closes April 26, 2024, at 9 a.m.)
Partner: OpenThink
Pillars: Communication
Event type: In-person

Mitacs Project Management (PM) Course
Dates: April 29–30, 2024, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Partner: Mitacs
Pillars: Career Intelligence
Event type: In-person
Venue: Studley Campus
This workshop is exclusively for Dalhousie graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. Light refreshments will be provided

Participate in the Dal GradPD certificate program

To help you navigate your PD journey, we have created a free certificate program to recognize your efforts and help you identify the opportunities you need to take you where you want to go.

What you’ll do during the certificate program:

  • Individual development plan (IDP) workshop: In this session, you’ll explore the skills and experiences you need to achieve your professional goals and map your plan to get there. IDP workshops will be held every month, so don't worry if you missed an earlier session. An asynchronous video of the IDP workshop is also available in the Dal GradPD Brightspace.

  • Pillars workshops: Participate in two hours of workshops from each of the Dal GradPD pillars: Communication, Career Intelligence, Health and Wellbeing, and Leadership. You can select from options provided by Dal GradPD partners or find other opportunities you think will best suit your goals. 

  • Experiential learning: Take on four hours of hands-on experience from each pillar. Write a blog, go to a networking event, practice a time management strategy, organize an event – the possibilities are vast and the experiences priceless. 

  • Professional identity workshop: Wrap up the certificate with this session that will empower you to articulate the value of the skills you've gained at graduate school to prospective employers. 

When done, you’ll receive a certificate signed by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and recognition on your transcripts. More importantly, you’ll have developed a plan for where you want to go with your career and assembled the professional and personal skills you need to get there.