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Online professional development options

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Self-directed online learning

Sometimes a class or prior commitment means you can't attend an in-person session or live online workshop or webinar, but there are options available for you to learn new skills at your own pace, when it's convenient for you.


Mitacs

Our partnership with Mitacs grants you access to their online courses that allow you to learn new skills at your own pace, where and when it's convenient for you. Graduate students and postdocs can sign up for a Mitacs EDGE account if you don't already have one and register for any of the courses below. 

Mitacs' curriculumincludes eight self-paced, asynchronous e-learning courses. Time commitments for each course range from 60 to 180 minutes. When registering, each subject area has a bundle including a self-paced online course as well as a live, instructor-led session (if available). The instructor-led course cannot be signed up for until the corresponding self-directed, asynchronous course has been completed.

The relevant Dal GradPD pillar covered in each course bundle is noted below. 

Communication

Leadership

Career Intelligence

Facilitated workshops from Mitacs

Mitacs also offers a number of facilitated, instructor-led workshops throughout the year open to participants who have completed the accompanying asynchronous e-learning course for each workshop. Workshops are open to students and postdocs from universities across Canada, but time zones vary depending on which region is hosting the session. 

Descriptions of each workshop can be found on the Mitacs website, and you can register by signing up for or logging into your Mitacs EDGE account.


Anti-Racism 101 module

The Anti-Racism 101 workshop provides a foundational overview of the ways in which  Anti-Racism manifests within us, on our campuses, and in our communities. Through the exploration of concepts such as microaggressions, unconscious bias, Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Black racism, accountability and more, this workshop provides avenues of learning but most importantly implores as all to commit to changing our behaviours, attitudes and actions today.

This module counts toward the Dal GradPD communication pillar. To register, email hres@dal.ca.

Monday and Wednesday grad student writing group

Do you struggle to start or finish writing projects as part of your graduate work? Join the Writing Centre's Monday and Wednesday grad student writing groups. Along with others in the group, you'll meet online at 9:00 a.m. to discuss issues that hinder your writing and set daily and weekly goals. Later in the afternoon at 4:00 p.m., you'll meet again to provide a brief progress report. Through this process, you'll gain the confidence to work through your issues and complete your writing project.

Email kala.hirtle@dal.ca to register.

Q-Life resiliency project

Available to all Dalhousie students, the Q-Life resiliency training program is designed to help you be better prepared for dealing with stress and everyday challenges. The program requires a commitment of one hour per week for nine weeks. Complete details and testimonial videos from past participants are available at the Q-Life website.