As the saying goes, “success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pocket.”
Executive Education at Edwards School of Business
For close to 40 years, Edwards Executive Education at the University of Saskatchewan has offered professional development courses intended to advance careers and facilitate leadership competence. In 2017, more than 1,100 individuals took courses with Edwards Executive Education (with many of those supported by their employer). All courses are taught by Edwards School of Business faculty or practicing subject matter experts.
“Ongoing education can have so many benefits for an individual—whether that’s developing new skills, learning from others’ experiences or expanding a professional network. Individuals who have graduated from our programs find that the knowledge gained has helped to progress their personal and professional journeys,” says Ashley Drozda, Manager of Executive Education, Edwards School of Business. Drozda is an Edwards graduate herself (B.Comm. 2006) with a major in marketing who returned to work at the business school in 2013.
Project Management Training
One of Edwards Executive Education’s most popular courses is its Masters Certificate in Project Management. This certificate is offered in partnership with the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. It was developed by the National Program Director, David Barrett, and is aligned with the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Project Management Body of Knowledge.
The certificate is designed to build excellent project management skills. Offered in both Regina and Saskatoon, it consists of nine modules for 18 days taught over the course of five months. It also prepares students to write the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam.
Effective Executive Leadership Program
Executive Education at Edwards School of Business
This flagship retreat-style program is designed for senior managers and executives from a variety of sectors. It has been offered by Edwards for over 30 years – with an emphasis on personal and professional growth. The program takes place in January and May in Waskesiu Lake.
“Our Effective Executive Leadership Program focuses on six core areas – personal growth, working with others, performance measurement, strategic management, organizational culture and ethical decision-making. Students appreciate the importance of being nimble and increasing their skill set, as well as the terrific networking opportunities that the program provides,” said Drozda.
The program’s health and work-life balance components enable participants to take control of their lives by returning focus to a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
“Both the public offering and customized in-house Edwards programs have proven beneficial to our company. At the public programs our employees get the chance to work with, and learn from, professionals in other industries. The customized programs facilitate teambuilding and allow us to explore leadership and management specific to the industry we work in.” – Rory Duncan, Vice President & General Manager, Howatt Consulting
All Edwards Executive Education programs are available to executives, managers or professionals who want to gain additional knowledge in a dynamic learning environment. Most classes are held at the KW Nasser Centre, located at 256 3rd Avenue South in downtown Saskatoon (typically during work hours).
There are also a variety of programs offered in Management, Leadership, Communications, Governance, Women’s Initiatives, and Project and Process Management. “We have a lot of great one-day courses that provide great value,” explained Drozda. In addition, Edwards Executive Education offers customized on-site training programs for organizations with multiple students and specific intended outcomes. Courses are non-credit, and pricing is competitive with other Canadian continuing education programs.
For more information and a list of courses offered, go to edwards.usask.ca/programs/execed.
