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.
Some of the workshops are self-directed on MyLearningSpace. First, register for the workshop by selecting "Self Registration," then select the workshop, and select "Register."
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.
All sessions are virutal, 1 hour in length and open to all students.
Getting More Sleep
Sleep is often one of the first things to go when we are busy. In this session, we will go through ways to improve your sleeping habits and learn how a sleep routine can positively impact your mental health and overall well-being. This workshop is led by Jasmine, Mental Health Education Assistant, and is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
In this session, we will go through ways to improve your sleeping habits and learn how a sleep routine can positively impact your mental health and overall well-being.
January 14, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Register here
Taking Charge of Your Wellness
Learn about holistic wellness, and how you can take a proactive, preventative approach to build wellness in each of the seven dimensions of wellness. This workshop is run by Samantha, Wellness Education Assistant, and is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
Participants will learn about holistic wellness, using a seven-dimension model for wellness. Participants will take away tangible strategies for supporting their wellness.
January 15, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Register here
Finding Your Bliss
Learn how to uncover your talents, find meaning through your work, passions, and utilize what brings you joy. Explore the intersections of spiritual and vocational wellness and how they impact our whole wellbeing. This workshop is led by Jasmine, the Mental Health Education Assistant, and Sarina, the Manager of Wellness Education, and a Career Development Practitioner. This is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
Learn how to uncover your talents, find meaning through your work, passions, and utilize what brings you joy. Explore the intersections of spiritual and vocational wellness and how they impact our whole wellbeing.
January 28, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Register here
Eating for Wellbeing
Food, mood, and learning are all closely linked, but when you're short on time and money it can be difficult to meal plan and prep for success. This workshop will provide you with practical strategies you can start using immediately to overcome common barriers to nutrition as a student so you can keep your body fueled and brain sharp! This workshop is led by Claire, the Wellness Education Coordinator. This is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
This workshop will provide you with practical strategies you can start using immediately to overcome common barriers to nutrition as a student so you can keep your body fueled and brain sharp!
January 30, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Register here
Learning to Communicate Assertively and with Kindness
Communication is key in all of our interpersonal relationships including friendships, family, romantic relationships and group members. In this workshop, we will learn about different types of communicators, why communication can be difficult, and hands-on strategies for expressing your needs confidently and with kindness. This is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
In this workshop, we will learn about different types of communicators, why communication can be difficult, and hands-on strategies for expressing your needs confidently and with kindness.
February 4, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Register here
Getting More Sleep
Sleep is often one of the first things to go when we are busy. In this session, we will go through ways to improve your sleeping habits and learn how a sleep routine can positively impact your mental health and overall well-being. This workshop is led by Jasmine, Mental Health Education Assistant, and is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
In this session, we will go through ways to improve your sleeping habits and learn how a sleep routine can positively impact your mental health and overall well-being.
February 6, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Register here
Managing Finances, Managing Stress
If you are feeling the pressure of increasing costs of living, you're not alone. Learn strategies to decrease your financial stress and increase your financial wellness with this workshop brought to you in partnership between Money Management and Wellness Education. This workshop counts as an elective in the Wellness Education Certificate.
February 11, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Register here
Practicing Gratitude and Affirmations
Join us to practice and learn about gratitude and positive affirmations! In this workshop, we learn all about gratitude and affirmations and how they can help support our wellbeing. We will explore the science behind gratitude and affirmations and give practical tips and activities for practicing them in your life. This workshop counts as an elective in the Wellness Education Certificate.
In this workshop, we learn all about gratitude and affirmations and how they can help support our wellbeing. There will also be practical tips and strategies for practicing gratitude in our lives.
February 26, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Register here
Self-care for Student Leaders
For any student balancing academics with work or volunteer commitments, self-care is crucial for effective leadership and overall wellbeing. Learn how to identify your own stressors, learn stress reduction techniques, and develop your own personal self-care plan. This workshop is led by Sarina, the Manager of Wellness Education, and counts as an elective in the Wellness Education Certificate.
Learn how to identify your own stressors, learn stress reduction techniques, and develop your own personal self-care plan.
March 3, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Register here
Finding Your Bliss
Learn how to uncover your talents, find meaning through your work, passions, and utilize what brings you joy. Explore the intersections of spiritual and vocational wellness and how they impact our whole wellbeing. This workshop is led by Jasmine, the Mental Health Education Assistant, and Sarina, the Manager of Wellness Education, and a Career Development Practitioner. This is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
Learn how to uncover your talents, find meaning through your work, passions, and utilize what brings you joy. Explore the intersections of spiritual and vocational wellness and how they impact our whole wellbeing.
March 6, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Register here
Neuroplasticity: Learn to Wire your Brain for Joy and Success
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences. In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to shift your mindset for growth, behaviours, and emotions in order boost your wellbeing and achieve your goals! You will discover how to develop positive thinking, overcome obstacles, and tap into your brain's capacity for growth and resiliency using specific tips and scientific discoveries. Uncover the tools you need to make long-term changes and thrive in both your educational and personal lives! This workshop is led by Jasmine Kapoor, fourth year psychology and neuroscience student, and Mental Health Education Assistant. This workshop counts as an elective in the Wellness Education Certificate.
In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to shift your mindset for growth, behaviours, and emotions in order boost your wellbeing and achieve your goals! You will discover how to develop positive thinking, overcome obstacles, and tap into your brain's capacity for growth and resiliency using specific tips and scientific discoveries
March 11, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Register here
Eating for Wellbeing
Food, mood, and learning are all closely linked, but when you're short on time and money it can be difficult to meal plan and prep for success. This workshop will provide you with practical strategies you can start using immediately to overcome common barriers to nutrition as a student so you can keep your body fueled and brain sharp! This workshop is led by Claire, the Wellness Education Coordinator. This is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
This workshop will provide you with practical strategies you can start using immediately to overcome common barriers to nutrition as a student so you can keep your body fueled and brain sharp!
March 12, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Register here
Taking Charge of Your Wellness
Learn about holistic wellness, and how you can take a proactive, preventative approach to build wellness in each of the seven dimensions of wellness. This workshop is run by Samantha, Wellness Education Assistant, and is one of the core workshops in the Wellness Education Certificate.
Participants will learn about holistic wellness, using a seven-dimension model for wellness. Participants will take away tangible strategies for supporting their wellness.
March 20, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Register here
Strengthening your Growth Mindset
Join us to chat about what the "growth mindset" is, the characteristics of it, and ways we can approach developing and strengthening this. Learn how this can be applied not only in academic life, but in all areas! This workshop counts as an elective in the Wellness Education Certificate.
You will learn about growth mindset, and tangible tips and strategies for growing your growth mindset.
March 25, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. – Register here
Our teaching development workshops offer transferrable teaching skills and foundational teaching knowledge that can be used for both the classroom and the workplace. Learn about different pedagogies and hear from experienced staff and colleagues as they reflect on their experiences and share their knowledge.
All sessions are 90 minutes in length.
Self-paced Microsoft Stream recorded workshops:
Rock the First Day
Want to spark student interest, motivation, and collaboration? This workshop will identify five practical things you can do as a teacher or teaching assistant on the first day (or any day thereafter) to establish a classroom climate that invites students to get the most out of your course. Students form an impression of you and your expectations on your first day of class. This is your opportunity to learn how to rock that first impression!
Didn’t connect with your students on the first day? These tips can be utilized beyond the first day as well. The strategies provided are equally helpful as ongoing tools to implement, reflect on, and revise throughout the term.
January 9, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – Register here
January 21, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Register here
Sparking Student Engagement
Does the room go quiet when you ask questions? Do you see blank stares when you try to get students talking? Knowing how to actively engage your students to enhance their learning is an important skill.
This workshop will introduce you to some strategies to both ignite and sustain student engagement.
January 28, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Register here
Sparking Student Engagement
Does the room go quiet when you ask questions? Do you see blank stares when you try to get students talking? Knowing how to actively engage your students to enhance their learning is an important skill.
This workshop will introduce you to some strategies to both ignite and sustain student engagement.
February 06, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Register here
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
In this session, we will explore the basics of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with proactive approaches to teaching and learning and designing a course that anticipates and removes barriers to student learning by offering multiple ways of engagement, understanding, and demonstrating knowledge. Through discussions of UDLs three core principles of creating inclusive and accessible learning environments that support the success of all students, participants will learn classroom tips, and examples of what UDL looks like in action. Using a mix of interactive discussions, practical examples, and reflective activities, participants will explore strategies to make learning more flexible, equitable, and engaging. Whether you’re an instructor, a GTA, or a graduate student, this workshop will equip you with the tools to embrace learner diversity and foster meaningful, empowering experiences for every learner.
Whether you’re an instructor, a GTA, or a graduate student, this workshop will equip you with the tools to embrace learner diversity and foster meaningful, empowering experiences for every learner.
February 27, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – Register here
Providing Student Feedback and Feedforward
For teaching assistants, recognizing how and when to provide feedback to learners can be a tricky task. Concerns about how much and the quality of the feedback provided is fundamental to students’ success. In this introductory session, participants will spend time exploring the complexity of providing guidance to learners as a TA and explore the idea of feedforward to support ongoing student development.
This workshop will introduce you to some strategies to both ignite and sustain student engagement.
March 4, 2:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. – Register here
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
In this session, we will explore the basics of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) with proactive approaches to teaching and learning and designing a course that anticipates and removes barriers to student learning by offering multiple ways of engagement, understanding, and demonstrating knowledge. Through discussions of UDLs three core principles of creating inclusive and accessible learning environments that support the success of all students, participants will learn classroom tips, and examples of what UDL looks like in action. Using a mix of interactive discussions, practical examples, and reflective activities, participants will explore strategies to make learning more flexible, equitable, and engaging.
Whether you’re an instructor, a GTA, or a graduate student, this workshop will equip you with the tools to embrace learner diversity and foster meaningful, empowering experiences for every learner.
March 20, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. – Register here
Providing Student Feedback and Feedforward
For teaching assistants, recognizing how and when to provide feedback to learners can be a tricky task. Concerns about how much and the quality of the feedback provided is fundamental to students’ success. In this introductory session, participants will spend time exploring the complexity of providing guidance to learners as a TA and explore the idea of feedforward to support ongoing student development.
This workshop will introduce you to some strategies to both ignite and sustain student engagement.
March 25, 2:00 pm - 3:30pm – Register here
Reflections and Connections: Developing your Teaching Dossier
How can you make your teaching dossier stand out? Whether you are applying for internal awards, external honours or as part of a hiring package or even as a means of personal reflection, your teaching dossier plays a pivotal role in showcasing your teaching practice.
A teaching dossier is a collection of materials that tells a story about who you are as a teacher by displaying your teaching strengths through narrative and evidence-based materials. The content should be carefully curated to provide an authentic narrative that speaks to the intended audience (yourself, peers, committees). As a self-reflective tool, it can also act as a living document that evolves with you as an instructor.
This workshop will help you reflect on how and why you teach the way you do and support you in finding creative ways to make your teaching approaches and beliefs jump off the page using narrative and evidence-based materials. We’ll walk through key dossier components and discuss the role of teaching philosophies in forming the framework of your overall teaching dossier.
April 1, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Register here
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.
On-going self-paced learning on MyLearningSpace:
Details for each session and registration links can be found on the Graduate Tab of the Writing Service Workshop site.
Writing a Research (Thesis) Proposal
In this workshop, you will develop the tools to write an effective thesis proposal. We will examine common features of successful research statements, and you will learn how to apply these writing strategies in your own proposal. This workshop is targeted to Master’s and PhD students working on a thesis or OGS research proposal.
The Zoom link for the workshop is included below. The Zoom link will also be emailed to all registered participants prior to the workshop. You can register for the workshop on the Student Success Portal.
ZOOM link: https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/96279844599?pwd=r7awBznnDEB8UxOCwGZQSOwBtbzEqv.1
January 24, 3 pm - 4 pm - Register here
Writing Literature Reviews
Graduate students are often tasked with writing a literature review during their coursework or graduate studies. This workshop will provide MA and PhD students with strategies on how to organize, structure, and write a literature review. We will also discuss how to frame your literature review around a scholarly gap or research problem.
You can register for the workshop on the Student Success Portal.
The Zoom link for the workshop is included below. The Zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the workshop.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/99219421484?pwd=rBa23fFo0eQcraGxEV9pbkyp0nbFZp.1
February 11, 3 pm - 4 pm - Register here
Writing for Publication in Graduate School
While graduate students often face pressure to publish their research in peer-reviewed academic journals, they are not always told how this process works. In this 90-minute workshop, we will demystify the publishing and peer-review process. Students will also complete learning exercises to help them begin writing a journal article and learn how to find an appropriate journal to publish in.
You can register for the workshop on the Student Success Portal.
The Zoom link for the workshop is included below. The Zoom link will also be emailed to all registered participants prior to the workshop.
ZOOM link: https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/97746703119?pwd=WmbeboNDmDi4ENT2XdswxKvTq0kvza.1
March 13, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Register here
Scholarly Publishing in the Sciences
This one-hour session will cover some of the nuts and bolts of scholarly publishing in the sciences. The workshop will introduce tools to help researchers identify appropriate journals for publication, different ways to evaluate journals, and how to prepare your manuscript for submission.
By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:
March 4, 10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Register here
Strategies for Approaching Large Writing Projects
Are you writing a major research paper, Master’s thesis, or PhD dissertation? In this workshop, we will share strategies for how to effectively approach large writing projects. We will discuss a range of strategies, including goal setting, outlining, and writing techniques (e.g., Pomodoro Technique and freewriting). Participants are encouraged to share their uncertainties, challenges, and successes for approaching large writing large projects. The Zoom link for the workshop is included below.
You can register for the workshop on the Student Success Portal.
The Zoom link for the workshop is included below. The Zoom link will also be emailed to all registered participants prior to the workshop.
April 7, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Register here
ZOOM link: https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/94083570561?pwd=PbBbURf1Z5rrKlbmG9I1Izv1CBzwmz.1
April 15, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Register here
ZOOM link: https://wilfrid-laurier.zoom.us/j/92745713520?pwd=XMJ3W5yTk0UXFJRKLDmxIrTCrZ3fPN.1
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.
All sessions are virtual on Zoom.
Career Planning for Graduate Students
Whether you have clear ideas about your career path or are still wondering what is next for you, this workshop will allow participants to learn how to gather relevant information, insights, and resources to explore opportunities and how to develop a plan to get there.
This session will introduce practical strategies and resources to assist you in conducting the necessary self-reflection and research to identify ideal work environments, optimal job satisfiers and realistic goals for pursuing an academic or post-academic career.
January 17, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
Job Search Strategies for Graduate Students
Whether you're exploring careers in academia or industry, this session will teach you to develop a proactive job search strategy. You'll gain insights into the visible and hidden job markets and create an actionable plan to access opportunities through targeted research and networking techniques.
January 22, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Register here
Resumé & Cover Letter Writing for Graduate Students
Have you updated your employment documents lately? What are employers looking for in resumés and cover letters? Do you have to target your resumé? Do you even need a cover letter? Participants in this workshop will learn tools and strategies to present your relevant qualifications effectively and connect your skills, experiences and abilities to a target job.
January 24, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
Job Search Strategies for Graduate Students
Whether you're exploring careers in academia or industry, this session will teach you to develop a proactive job search strategy. You'll gain insights into the visible and hidden job markets and create an actionable plan to access opportunities through targeted research and networking techniques.
February 7, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
Interview Success for Graduate Students
What are employers really looking for from candidates? Join us as we discuss how to prepare for a successful job interview.
Participants will learn how to identify and present your best qualifications, formulate effective answers to common interview questions and strategies to help reduce stress and maximize your performance.
February 14, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
February 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Register here
LinkedIn for Graduate Students
In today's professional context, an online presence is essential.
Participants in this workshop will learn about tools and strategies to build your LinkedIn profile, represent yourself professionally, maximize your career research and build your online networks.
February 28, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
Network with Confidence for Graduate Students
Networking is one of the best things you can do for your career. Not sure where to start?
Participants will learn how to network online, build your elevator pitch, develop a professional reputation, and gain strategies for conducting informational interviews.
March 7, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
Competency Identification and Articulation for Graduate Students
Do you know what competencies you have and what employers are seeking? Align your competencies with your career development goals in this hands-on workshop. You will be able to identify and assess your personal competencies, identify areas for development and learn how to showcase the value of your experiences to an employer.
March 14, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Register here
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.
Self-paced MyLearningSpace modules:
Mendeley: A free tool to manage your citations
Thesis, dissertation, or capstone project, this tool will save you time. Please note: a workshop about Zotero is also available. If you’re unsure which tool to use, it helps to ask a professor or student in your program what they use. Questions? libcitations@wlu.ca
January 14, 1pm – Register here
Introduction to Web Archives
Are you interested in examining websites as primary source material? Learn what web archives are, where to access them, what tools are available to analyze web archives, and how these resources can be used in research.
Define web archives, identify the benefits of using web archives in research, and find and evaluate web archives
February 2, 2 pm – register here
Mendeley: A free tool to manage your citations
Thesis, dissertation, or capstone project, this tool will save you time. Please note: a workshop about Zotero is also available. If you’re unsure which tool to use, it helps to ask a professor or student in your program what they use. Questions? libcitations@wlu.ca
February 12, 10 am – Register here
Zotero: A free tool to manage your citations
Use Zotero to streamline how you collect sources and create bibliographies. If you’re doing a research assignment, thesis, dissertation, or capstone project, this tool will save you time. Please note: a workshop about Mendeley is also available. If you’re unsure which tool to use, it helps to ask a professor or student in your program what they use
February 5, 10:00 am - 11:00 am – Register here
February 13, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm – Register here
Scholarly Publishing in the Sciences
This one-hour session will cover some of the nuts and bolts of scholarly publishing in the sciences. The workshop will introduce tools to help researchers identify appropriate journals for publication, different ways to evaluate journals, and how to prepare your manuscript for submission.
By the end of the workshop, you will be able to:
Participants will be better prepared to submit manuscripts for academic publication and will gain knowledge of tools to help select and evaluate journals.
Instructor: Joanna Blair
March 4, 10am – 11am – Register here
