Career development takes centre stage at Dal with new unit and employee supports

As many of us look forward to spring and new opportunities, one that often tops the list is how to grow your career. This can look different to everyone — whether you are just starting out, you are midway through a career or you’re transitioning to a senior leader role. It is the journey along the way that needs to be supported, and that is why the Human Resources department at Dal has developed a Career Development unit (formerly Learning & Development).

This change, as part of the Inclusive Excellence pillar of the university’s strategic plan, has introduced new career development programs and professional development opportunities to highlight the university's commitment to employee support.

Career Development Consultant Kristin Hewlett has been leading this work since she was hired into this new role last fall with the aim of helping shape the future of employee growth within Dal.

“We know that fostering career development not only increases employee motivation and productivity, but it also helps Dalhousie attract and retain the best faculty and staff,” says Hewlett, shown right.

Hewlett’s background includes experience in career advising, transition, and development. Prior to coming to Dal, she worked at a leading Atlantic Canadian consulting firm as an executive recruiter and a career-transition consultant. She helped employees at all stages of their careers successfully transition to the next step in their career journeys. At Dal, she worked on the academic staff relations team before taking a role at the Schulich School of Law where she served as a senior career advisor.

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Career development resources

There is a new Career Development section on the HR myDal site focused on helping employees and enhancing the way they engage in professional development.

One of the key drivers behind this initiative was the collaboration between the Human Resources department and the Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development (OLCD). OLCD has recently streamlined the process of applying an employee tuition waiver to its range of courses.

”We're always looking for new ways to open doors to career development courses, and now we've made it easier than ever for Dal employees to apply a tuition waiver to our range of courses,” says Jennifer Hann, director of enrollment, student services & advising with OLCD. “When our faculty and staff engage in lifelong learning, they not only enrich their own professional lives, but they also help drive Dalhousie's capacity to innovate, serve, and lead in higher education.”

These instructional videos help guide employees on how to register and apply for a tuition waiver, which will reduce paperwork and simplify various processes, benefiting employees and administrators.

Another platform you can also access is the university's Percipio online learning program, which provides full-time Dal employees with accessible, flexible, and educational learning opportunities. With Percipio, employees can access a diverse library of content in various formats, from video courses to audiobooks and e-books, all designed to assist them in gaining new skills.

Stay tuned later in the spring for the introduction of a new and improved Employee Learning site to replace the Employee Learning Calendar.

The priority on career development at Dal reinforces its commitment to providing a positive workplace and engaging environment for its faculty and staff.

If you have questions about career development, contact talent.management@dal.ca or visit Career Development on the HR myDal site.