Professional Development

Case-based Learning Forum

Case-based Learning Forum presents students with specific scenarios that resemble real-world examples and students engage each other in peer-to-peer discussions to critically examine and resolve cases. By participating in case-based learning, students enhance their critical thinking, communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills within an inter-disciplinary context. Graduate students will participate in a 4 hour event where they will be presented with case studies that encourage their application of theoretical and practical knowledge. Students from the following Laurier programs will participate: MSW, MMT, and MA in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy.

Our hope is that this experience enhances student life in the following ways:

Building community within and between graduate disciplines in helping professions; increasing connectivity following the isolating effects of COVID-19
Providing an interactive and engaging opportunity for students to develop skills that are relevant to their education as well as their future careers
Expanding skill set in areas of potential growth that may not be addressed directly in coursework/field placement, depending on the student's program, placement and/or course load.
Providing the opportunity for students to hear from content expert(s) on a topic that is relevant to their practice as well as learn from peers' experiences, knowledge and education.
An opportunity to apply skills and experience to a concrete scenario and challenge biases across disciplines; increase interdisciplinary skills.

Available in Kitchener.

Certificate in Practical Politics

The Certificate in Practical Politics has you complete a series of four (out of a possible six) "Practical Politics" skills-building workshops over the course of the academic year. These workshops will focus on skills-development in several areas that are of direct relevance for the job market.

Available in Waterloo.

Conducting Legal Research

The Certificate on Conducting Legal Research is run through the Faculty of Arts. These workshops will focus on doing Canadian Legal Research, the different levels of government involved in law making in Canada as well as the British side of things, and how to do firm level legal research.

Available in Brantford and Waterloo.

Laurier Summer Institute of Research Methods

The Laurier Summer Institute of Research Methods (LSIRM) offers both introductory and advanced courses for training in research methods. These courses are designed for students, researchers, and professionals alike. The courses cover a variety of research methods and data analysis from both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. LSIRM is designed to enhance the skills of researchers through practical training from experts in the field. It is a great way for students, researchers, and professionals to learn new skills or build upon existing skills.

LSIRM is offered by the Centre for Community Research, Learning and Action (CCRLA).

Prism Resources

The Prism Resources program offers members training sessions on skills for the workplace. If you are a student in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, you are already enrolled. If you are in another faculty, you can a pay fee to enrol in the program.

Prism Audit (CaseWare) offers two audit courses (both must be completed) that teaches members what audits are, discusses common audit procedures and what to expect when working for a public accounting firm, and CaseWare that is a practical course where students learn to use the software commonly used by public accounting firms.
Prism Bloomberg certifies members on the basic usage of the Bloomberg platform used in industry.
Prism Excel VBA offers two courses in VBA where members are able to learn how to automate databases, record a macro, and more.
Prism Office Suite Prism Resources offers two courses: PowerPoint/Word and Access, where students learn how to navigate and use the software and most commonly used functions in a work environment.
Prism QuickBooks teaches students how to use the software to set up a new company, navigate the different types of transactions and how to record them, as well as, perform the various functions required for small and medium sized businesses.
Prism R Prism Resources offers a 1 and a half hour R course where students learn the basic functions of the program and then build off of that knowledge.
Prism Salesforce provides an overview of the widely-used customer relationship management (CRM) software and teaches students to perform the common functions. It also introduces students to trailhead training modules.
Prism Statistics offers courses where students learn the basic functions of the program and then build off that knowledge. In the advanced module, students focus on manipulating regressions, hypothesis testing, generating variables and confidence intervals.
Prism Web Design offers two web design courses in which students learn about HTML and CSS, and combining the two of them to create a functional and visually appealing website.