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ASPIRE: Skills Training and Professionalization

For Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows 

ASPIRE skills training complements your academic program. ASPIRE supports your professional development throughout your studies and helps to prepare you for your chosen career path. 

Why participate in ASPIRE?

  • Develop skills to succeed in your graduate program or postdoctoral posting.
  • Prepare for life after Laurier. 
  • Meet colleagues from outside of your program.
  • Connect with co-curricular advisors. 

If you have questions about a workshop, want to provide us workshop suggestions, or you're unsure about signing up, contact us at fgps@wlu.ca. 

Earn the ASPIRE Professional Development Certificate

Invest in your future and earn the ASPIRE Certificate, which is designed to complement your academic program by providing opportunities to develop a range of skills and competencies. 

To earn the certificate, complete five workshops in at least two ASPIRE pillars.

Learn more details about the ASPIRE Professional Development Certificate.

Browse All ASPIRE Workshops

Explore upcoming workshops based on the five ASPIRE program pillars: Career Development, Professionalization and Communication, Teaching Development, Research, Wellness.

Wellness Teaching Development Professionalization and Communication Career Research

Wellness

Take charge of your personal well-being. Our workshops provide you with the skills to manage your time, mental health, and work-life balance. Foster self-awareness and mindfulness in your personal, scholarly, and professional life.

Teaching Development 

The workshops and training opportunities offered through ASPIRE programming support graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the growth and development of their teaching practice. The workshops offer transferrable teaching skills and foundational teaching knowledge that can be used for both the classroom and the workplace. Students are provided an opportunity to explore the world of teaching and learning. Learn about different pedagogies and hear from experienced staff and colleagues as they reflect on their experiences and share their knowledge.

Professionalization and Communication

In any academic or professional environment, strong communication and leadership skills are critical. Perfect your writing and oral presentation skills with help from specialists in the field.

Career

Move successfully into your next career phase. ASPIRE workshops, run by Career Centre professionals, can help you to market your transferable skills, build your resumé, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, and network and interview with confidence, among many other skills.

  • Academic CV Writing | June 20 at 10:30 a.m.
  • Academic Job Search | June 21 at 10:30 a.m. 
  • Academic Job Search Faculty Panel | June 21 at 2 p.m. 
  • Academic Interviewing | June 22 at 10:30 a.m.
  • Academic Interviews Faculty Panel | June 22 at 2 p.m. 
  • Resume and Cover Letter Writing | July 25 at 11 a.m.
  • Transferable Skills | July 25 at 2 p.m. 
  • Job Search and Networking | July 26 at 11 a.m. 
  • Panel: Recruiters | July 26 at 2 p.m. 
  • Network with Confidence | July 27 at 11 a.m. 
  • LinkedIn | July 27 at 2 p.m. 
  • Interview Success | July 28 at 11 a.m. 
  • Career Planning | Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. 
  • Panel: Graduate Student Alumni | Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. 
  • Skills and Professionalism in the Workplace | Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. 
  • Panel: Jobs on Campus outside of Faculty Roles | Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. 

Research

Research is a huge component of many Masters, PhD and Postdoctoral Fellow programs. Workshops in our research pillar can help you to complete the work that you are doing at Laurier and help prepare you for future research opportunities. Through workshops ranging from how to develop a research question, to managing your data, our research experts will teach you how to translate your technical work for non-specialist audiences.