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31
Jan 12

Attend One of the Most Reputable Colleges in Toronto

When the concept of community college was developed, its aim was to offer students job-focused, practical training that was both affordable and would hold up in the workforce. Today, it is one of the most popular options for a respected post-secondary education. In Canada, many students choose community college because it is still a most cost-effective option that allows for flexible scheduling, shorter in-school time, smaller classroom sizes, hands-on training and, in a lot of cases, field placement experience. Among colleges in Toronto, Centennial College is a top choice for all of these reasons and more. In total, this Canadian college supports annual enrolments of 16,000 full-time students and 22,000 part-time learners. It is also recognized as one of the most culturally diverse post-secondary institutions in Ontario. Almost 100 ethno-cultural groups are represented and 80 languages are spoken on campus.

This post-secondary institution is actually the oldest publicly funded community college in Ontario and today has four campuses (Ashtonbee, Morningside, Progress and Centre for Creative Communications) that are situated to serve the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area. The community college offers full-time programs in more than 100 fields of study, falling into the categories: Business, Community and Health Studies, Technology and Applied Science, Hospitality Tourism and Culture as well as Communications, Media and Design. The wide range of offerings makes Centennial College an ideal post-secondary institution for students looking to turn an interest into an employable skill set. All programs emphasize experiential learning with laboratory instruction, paid co-operative education opportunities, and industry and agency field placements.

Centennial also offers a variety of innovative degree programs. Five joint-degree programs in paramedicine, journalism, new media studies, environmental science and technology and applied microbiology are taught in conjunction with the University of Toronto Scarborough, and the Bachelor of Science Nursing program is delivered jointly with Ryerson University. Centennial was among the first colleges in Ontario to receive approval for applied-degree programs in computer and communication networking, and software systems: design, development and management.

In addition, this community college also has part-time studies options. One of these options is Distance Learning, which is facilitated entirely online. Designed with flexibility in mind, online courses at Centennial College save travel time while allowing students to enjoy qualified instructors, communication tools, discussion boards and forums, a sense of email access with your classmates, digital assignment capability, and more. The other part-time options is Continuing Education, which provides its students with experienced instructors who understand adult learning needs; offers flexible, learner-centered teaching methodologies; provides practical hands-on knowledge to place relevant theory into context and perspective; recognizes and respects both the level of maturity and work experience of its students; provides effective instructor to student ratio and an optimal classroom size enabling competent peer interaction.

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24
Jan 12

Motive Power Technician Program Opens Door to Further Study or Rewarding Career

“The Motive Power Technician - Technical program will prepare all students for a career in the automotive field,” says an instructor in the program offered at Toronto’s Centennial College. “We actually have labs that include our transmission lab, our engine lab, fuels, electrical, electronics, and our chassis systems. We train our students for a number of career opportunities once they leave here. We open a lot of doors.” Meanwhile another instructor adds, “Many of our students end up back at Centennial College, either in body work or mechanical. Some of them go onto dealerships to work at part departments and that sort of thing.”

While these insights offer a great general overview of the Motive Power Technician program, which is accredited by the Canadian Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) National Accreditation Board, let’s take a closer look at some of the standout details and features. First and foremost, applicants to the Motive Power Technician (Automotive) – Technical program, must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or are 19 years of age or older. They must also obtain the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and the Math 11M or U, or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent. However, it should be noted that possession of minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

The emphasis of this motor vehicle technician program is on motor vehicle technology, which is taught through a combination of theory and practical training. Students are based in Ashtonbee Campus, which houses the largest transportation training centre in the province of Ontario and the labs mentioned by the instructor. These labs are equipped with cars, car parts and the most up-to-date tools that are found in the industry.

Taking two years to complete, the first semester of Motive Vehicle Technician sees students participate in courses that are common to both the administration and technical streams. This allows them to determine which aspect of the industry is better suited for then. Among the topics covered in this first semester are: applied mechanics, engines, transmissions, fuels, alignment, vehicle technology, mathematics and more. Meanwhile, the second semester sees a focus on component design and includes topics such as transportation administration, applied vehicle dynamics, and higher levels of topics offered in the first semester. The last two semesters concern themselves with the highest level of topics such as engines, alignment, transmission and others such as air conditioning, technical drawings, properties of materials and more.

All of the in-school content taught in this motor vehicle technician program is the same as the Automotive Service Technician (AST) apprenticeship qualification. This ensures students are prepared to enter the industry as well as be successful on exemption testing for licensing qualification. Students who decide to pursue a career upon completing the Motive Power Technician program can apply for jobs as automotive apprentices, service advisors, lead hands, repair technicians, automotive service and parts management or automotive import/ export.

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24
Jan 12

Automotive Service Technician Apprenticeship is the First Step to Success

Some people who want to become automotive service technicians may be limited in obtaining an education because they cannot afford to take time off work from their current automotive position to advance their education. At Centennial College, students don’t have to choose. With the post-secondary’s automotive service technician training, there is an earn-while-you-learn approach. That makes it possible to learn while still making a living. How? First, during the three eight-week in-school sessions of the automotive service technician apprenticeship, students may qualify for income support through Employment Insurance Canada benefits or training allowance. Meanwhile, there are also five periods of 1,800 hours with an employer during which students are fully compensated for their work. In addition, if that time period doesn’t fit their schedule, students can complete the program by attending one day a week for three years or two evenings a week for three years.

To apply for this automotive service technician training, students have completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent and be employed as an apprentice. However, they cannot apply directly to the college or ontariocolleges.ca for admission. For general information about apprenticeship registration, students are asked to contact the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Once they have gone through the application process and been accepted, students will discover a program that puts the emphasis on ensuring they obtain a good working knowledge of all of a vehicle’s systems: engines, electrical/electronics, fuels, transmissions and drivelines, steering, suspension and brakes. This occurs through the provinces largest transportation training centre, Ashtobee Campus. This facility houses workshop labs that simulate a real life environment and include tools of the trade and entire cars and car parts that have been donated to the school, on which students practice. Leading the students are professionals from the field who can offer one-on-one instruction as well as share their own experiences. More specifically, during their in-school sessions students learn car systems by attending the following automotive service technician training courses: Drive Train Systems, Electrical/Electronic & Emission Systems, Engine Systems, Work Practices and Procedures, and Suspension/Steering and Brake Systems.

After learning about a certain aspect of being an automotive service technician, students spend time with an employer showcasing their skills, encountering customers and practicing in a real-life setting. Upon graduation from Centennial College, students have the potential to be hired by their apprenticeship employers, full-time. In fact, more than other industry, the automotive service technician field looks for apprentices and workers who enter the sector having already experienced hands-on situations. Positions for those with automotive service technician training can be found in: vehicle and parts manufacturers, dealers, garages and service stations, retailers, governments, corporations with their own fleets as well as in self-employment.

Centennial College: Canadian tire MAP32 Program

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24
Jan 12

General Motors Technicians Benefit from Centennial College’s Brand of Training

Writing vehicle damage repair estimates, repairing broken or worn mechanical components, maintaining repair and service records, installing equipment, components and systems; testing vehicles both before and after repair; and repairing electrical wiring, circuits, fixtures, brakes, transmissions, electrical systems, breaks and tires — these are some of the responsibilities of trained General Motors technicians.

In order to have a long lasting career in this field, interested parties must be properly trained. Schools across Canada offer general automotive service technician training. But Centennial College’s Automotive Service Technician General Motors of Canada ASEP (MAP 32) specifically trains students on the latest GM vehicle systems, with emphasis on diagnosis and repair following recommended GM service procedures. This puts students at an advantage when it comes to the stiff competition they may face upon completion of the GM technician training.

Applicants to this offering must be currently employed as an automotive apprentice at a General Motors of Canada dealership. In addition, they must also possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or a GED or equivalent. Interested parties can apply directly to the College. Acceptance to the GM technician training is based on successful completion of all entry requirements and space is limited. It should be noted that if students are not currently General Motors employees, they may be selected through an interview process. Once they’ve been accepted, they are required to obtain an employer and register as a MAP apprentice with the Apprenticeship Branch of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

The Centennial College GM technician training has students alternate between the college and their employer for a total of 64 weeks (32 weeks with each). As such, the offering is longer than traditional apprenticeships, allowing for a more in-depth knowledge of General Motors vehicles and procedures. During the in-school aspect of the General Motors technician training, students are based in Ashtonbee Campus, Canada’s largest transportation training centre. At this facility they have the opportunity to use tools that are common in the field and practice on actual GM vehicles that have been donated to the school. This gives them an overall idea of a real-life General Motors technician’s experience.

A large portion of the in-school aspects of the program involves vehicle electrical and electronic systems diagnosis and repair. There are five specific courses within the GM technician training, in which students participate: Motor Vehicle Gear Trains, Electrical/Electronics & Fuel Systems, Motor Vehicle Engine Systems, Applied Work Practices and Procedures, and Suspension/Steering and Brakes. These courses encompasses all of the latest GM vehicle systems, with emphasis on diagnosis and repair, following recommended GM service procedures. Meanwhile, the employer aspect of the GM technician training allows students to apply their new knowledge, obtain tips from seasoned professionals with years of experience in the field and network. During their employer sessions, students are compensated for their work.

Centennial College General Motors of Canada – ASEP Program

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24
Jan 12

Electrical Engineering Technicians undergo extensive training

With constant evolution in electronics, a career as an Electrical Engineering Technician is challenging but rewarding. The job of these technicians is to solve technical problems in research and development, manufacturing, sales, construction, inspection, and maintenance by using science, engineering and mathematical principles. They often assist engineers and scientists. Electronic engineering technicians normally work 40 hours a week and spend their time in labs, offices and manufacturing plants. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in the field are expected to grow by five per cent between 2008 and 2018.

The electronic field is split into two categories – hands-on and theoretical. In the hands-on aspect of the electronic engineering technician field, techs may fabricate parts such as coils, terminal boards and chassis, using bench lathes, drills and other machine tools. They may also write computer or microprocessor software programs and test the electronic units that they’re helped to put together. If there are problems, the techs will identify and resolve equipment malfunctions. Lastly, the professionals in this field may have to provide user applications and engineering support for new and existing equipment with regard to installation, upgrades and enhancement.

On the theoretical side, electronics engineering technicians may research equipment and component needs, sources, competitive prices, delivery times and ongoing operational costs. They may also write reports and record data on testing techniques, laboratory equipment and specifications to assist engineers while also maintaining system logs and manuals, reading blueprints, wiring diagrams, schematic drawings and engineering instructions for assembling electronic units.

No matter where your interest lies, you must first attend an Electrical Engineering Courses, such as the one offered at Centennial College in Toronto. During the two years that it takes to complete the undertaking, you will develop technical expertise in areas such as wireless communications, data communications, microcontrollers and industrial systems.

This is achieved through courses such as Electronics Shop Practices (students gain practical skills in repairing and testing cables, transformers, potentiometers, connectors, switches, speakers, discrete components and integrated circuits); Digital Electronics (introduces digital circuits); Technology Mathematics (covers intermediate topics in algebra and trigonometry); Microcontrollers (introduces students to the basic concepts of the hardware and software of a microcontroller); and more. Working in fully-equipped labs will help to ensure you understand the topics well.

To become an Electrical Engineering Technician, the appropriate education is required. Centennial College offers a two-year program in this field that sees students graduate with an Ontario College Diploma. Gaining entry into the undertaking requires the possession of an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or being 19 years of age or older. You must also have compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11M or U, or 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent.

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13
Jan 12

Complete Heavy Duty Equipment Courses at Centennial College In Just Two Years

“This is an introductory program for students to get into the heavy equipment industry,” says Angelo Spanno, a professor in the Heavy Duty Equipment Technician program at Centennial College. “The program consists of an eight-month in-school portion. Then the following eight months is done during a co-op term actually working for an employer on a full-time basis for the entire eight months. Then there’s a final eight-month portion to finish the program.” While Angelo outlines the technical aspect of this undertaking, Kelsey, a student, expands on why the program is worthwhile. “I decided to take the [heavy equipment courses] because I thought it was there was a good demand. As the economy gets worse, there’s always going to be construction jobs; there’s good pay and I like working with my hands. The coolest part of the program is just getting to play with the equipment and circuit boards, learning to use all the different tools and how to perform maintenance.”

In order to benefit from the heavy equipment courses offered at Centennial College, students must complete the application process. This includes being able to present at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent. Non-academic requirements include: satisfactory results in a program admission session, experience and mechanical aptitude, resumé and English proficiency.

As Angelo mentioned, the students in the program split their time between Centennial College and an employer in the field. When they are in-school, students participate in courses that give them the necessary knowledge to go into their co-op placement and not be lost. Heavy Equipment Courses include: Drive Train Systems (covers differential, final drives and power dividers, power shift transmission systems), Hoisting and Rigging Technology (fundamentals and principles of leverage and power, mechanical advantage, material strength, and more); Engine Systems (designed to provide the apprentice technician with an understanding of the fundamentals and concepts or internal combustion engines); and others. In addition, working out of Ashontbee Campus — the largest transportation training centre in the province — students train on heavy duty equipment assemblies in fully-equipped heavy duty equipment labs.

Meanwhile, the eight months of practical training sees students at a heavy equipment facility, working among professionals in the field. This is an opportunity to not only apply what was learned in school but also to network and get to know professionals in the field. Many students end up staying on as full-time employees at their co-op placement upon graduation as they enter the apprenticeship aspect of their careers.

Speaking of graduation, once the program is completed students go onto to become heavy duty equipment technicians, service managers, service writers or coordinators, equipment company representatives, or college or industry teachers. Professionals are not only employed in a variety of positions, but also in a variety of industries that include: forestry, construction, mining, transportation, landscaping, land cleaning, farming and more.

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13
Jan 12

Avionics Programs Train Students in Electronic Systems

Airlines/operators, manufactures, the military, aviation training companies, aviation repair and overhaul and aviation equipment/avionics companies are just some of the organizations that hire graduates of Canada’s Avionics Programs. Once such program is offered at Centennial College as a two-year offering called Aviation Technician – Avionics Maintenance. This particular program trains students in skills from basic electronics to sophisticated avionic systems used in modern aircraft.

If you are interested in applying for Centennial College’s avionics program, you must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or General Education Development or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. You must also have completed the compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment or equivalent and Math 11M or U or 12C or U or skills assessment or equivalent.

Once you are accepted, you partake in a program that is both approved by Transit Canada and certified by the Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council. The emphasis in Avionics Maintenance is on the aircraft’s various electronic systems: electrical power distribution and control, navigation, flight instrumentation, communication and radar. Aviation maintenance servicing practices and procedures, as well as aviation regulation requirements are also included. Students are given equal time in theory and lab training, which allows them to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge. Specific courses within the avionics program include: Avionics Fundamentals (principles, concepts, operations and indications relating to avionics instrument and navigation equipment/system; aircraft directional and measuring equipment/ systems are studied); Digital Avionics Practices (student learn about digital logic and devices including numbering systems, Boolean algebra, logic gates, integrated circuit types and operational amplifiers); Pulse Navigation Systems (pulse navigation systems are studied, including air traffic control transponders, distance measuring equipment, radar and collision avoidance systems); and more.

Shop work on various aircraft is also included. It is carried out of Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus, which is the largest transportation training centre in the province and includes an airplane hangar. All instructors within the Aviation Technician Schools have years of experience and extensive technical expertise as aviation technicians. In addition to seasoned teachers, there are also guest speakers and panelists who come in to share personal stories and lecture about industry-related topics.

Students in the aviation technician school must achieve a minimum C grade in all courses to graduate. Please note that Transport Canada accreditation requires both a minimum B grade in every course and an absentee rate of less than five per cent of the total program hours. Graduates who meet attendance requirements, project completion requirements, and attain 70 per cent in each course, are granted up to 18 months credit towards their Aircraft Maintenance Engineer’s licence (E rating).

Upon avionics program graduation, students go on to work as technicians whose jobs include: maintaining engine operations, flight patterns, navigation systems, radio communications and weather radar systems. In addition, they inspect, test and double-check electrical power distribution and control as well as flight instrumentation.

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13
Jan 12

Communications Training at Centennial College Includes Social Media

“What we try to do is hone your skills so we can get you connected to the world of public relations/ corporate communications in the Toronto market, which is a highly competitive market,” says Christine Smith, the program coordinator for Centennial College’s public relations/ Communication Skill Training. “Like most college programs, we do have an eight-week field placement. One of the neat things about our field placement is that it is in the final eight weeks of their two-semester program. Our program is probably one of the leading-edge PR programs that’s incorporating social media. When they leave, they’ll have a portfolio that shows everything from a news release to their own blog to producing an event with a team. More importantly, they can go to their employers and say, ‘I can advise you on social media.’”

Let’s take a closer look at the Centennial College public relations program (officially known as Corporate Communications and Public Relations) based on Christine’s description. The one-year program is geared towards graduate students. Therefore, applicants are required to possess an official transcript demonstrating proof of successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree program. Applicants will also be required to attend an information session that includes writing and editing exercises and will have to submit a portfolio of writing and a resume. Those who can present a combination of partial post-secondary education (two year minimum) and relevant work experience may also be considered for Centennial College’s Communications Training.

Once in the undertaking, students learn to research, write, plan, edit, design and implement everything from strategic communications plans and employee newsletters to gala dinners for hundreds of people. They also learn to create communications strategies that influence employee attitudes, shift stockholders’ opinions and tell an organization’s story to the media. Specific corporate communications courses covered in the program include: Public Relations Writing (in a writing lab using computers, students practice writing news and feature stories typically found in internal corporate publications, news releases for the media, fact sheets, backgrounders, and reports); Media Relations (developing familiarity with media directories, creating targeted media lists, pitching stories to the media, monitoring media coverage, framing answers to questions from the media and designing special events to attract media attention are examined and practiced); Design and Layout (students develop visual sensibilities based on the fundamentals of effective design); and more.

In addition to the in-school corporate communications courses, students in communications training participate in an eight-week field placement. This placement offers them the opportunity to apply the knowledge they learned within the program and to get a glimpse at the field they will enter upon graduating from the public relations program.

According to an April 2009 survey on PayScale.com, the median salary for a PR manger is $65,959.

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12
Jan 12

Biotechnology College Program Offers Career Variety Upon Graduation

Would it surprise you to know that all you need to apply for the Biotechnology College program at Centennial College is: an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older); English Grade 12 C or U or equivalent, or skills assessment; Math Grade 11 M or U or Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent, or skills assessment; and an interest in starting your career in the position of quality control technician for reputable companies? Well, get ready to be surprised because those are the only application requirements for the Biotechnology Technician – Industrial Microbiology program, which takes two years to complete.

Once students are accepted, they enter a program that is so reputable it has obtained two important accreditations. First, the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists nationally accredits this biotechnology college program. In addition, the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists recognizes the Biotechnology Technician – Industrial Microbiology program as meeting all the academic requirements for certification in the Technician Category. These national accreditations support program quality and provide mobility for graduates. In addition, the biotechnology technician offering is a repeat recipient of the Centennial College President’s Academic Program Recognition Award for outstanding student satisfaction.

The program itself is conducted out of Centennial College’s Morningside Campus, which is the most high-tech campus of the college’s four locations. This is a good thing because as a student named Mohammed describes, there is a lot of hands-on learning. “The program basically involves the study of microorganisms in detail as to the characteristics of the microorganisms, where they’re found, what they are, their names, their length and shape,” he says. “The labs, for sure, are very exciting as it involves hands-on [practice]. For example, there are labs that involve staining of samples or streaking of streak plates.”

Some highlights of the biotechnology college undertaking include: practical training in industrial microbiology as well as chemistry (analytical and organic) and biochemistry; isolating, enumerating and identify microorganisms from many types of samples (water, soil, air, your body, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products); preparing specimens for staining; becoming proficient in aseptic handling of materials; accurately calibrating and using a range of instruments such as pH and BOD meters, Gas Chromatographs, spectrophotometers (regular/IR/UV), HPLC’s etc.; preparing microbiological media and reagents and culture pathogenic microbes; designing and performing microbiology experiments; and using microorganisms to assay pharmaceutical products.

Specific courses in this Biotechnology Technician offering include: Chemistry, Occupational Health & Safety, Microcomputer Applications for Technology, Mathematics, Lab Instrumentation, Statistics for Applied Science, Food Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and more.

Once students graduate, they become Biotechnology technicians (also known as bench technicians), and have the responsibility of assuring quality control in areas of manufacturing such as food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Companies that have hired students of the Biotechnology Technician program include: Kisko Products, Hermann Laue Spice Company, Apotex Inc., Agropur – Divisional Natrel, Mill Street Brewery, MAXXAM Analytics, Campbell Soup Company, bioMerieux Analytics, Griffith Laboratories and Cosmetica Laboratories Inc.

Graduates may also apply for certification through the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) to use the following professional designation: CTech (Certified Technician).

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12
Jan 12

Court Clerk Training Offers Many Law-Related Career Options

Imagine finding employment with prestigious institutions such as The Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario Court of Justice, Ontario Superior Court of Justice), municipal courts, tribunals and boards, official examiners, and court reporting services. It’s possible if you’re interested in becoming a court clerk and attend Court Clerk training at Centennial College, which includes the all-important municipal court training aspect. In these various places of employments, court clerks have a multi-faceted role that includes the implementation of courtroom procedures, in addition to working with judges, lawyers and other courtroom personnel. The court clerk training at Centennial (officially known as Court Support Services) is so respected that even professionals from the Ministry of the Attorney General are singing its praises. “We look forward to the opportunity of working with the graduates of the Centennial College Court Support Services program,” says Ali Maqbool, Supervisor, Court Operations, Family & Small Claims Court, Ministry of the Attorney General.

Taking just two semesters to complete, the undertaking is designed as a certificate program on the recommendation of the Ministry of the Attorney General. Applicants interested in Court Clerk Training must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Academic requirements include compulsory English 12 or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent. Applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of English language proficiency in order to be considered for admission. Applicants whose first language is not English, and who have studied in an English language school system, for less than three full years may meet English proficiency requirements by providing satisfactory results an English Language Proficiency test.

Once they are in the program, students are introduced to the procedural rules, municipal court training, court reporting and transcribing as well as specific laws such as family law and criminal law. The courses within the offering are led by experienced court clerk training faculty members who work within the court system and provide students with the legal and practical hands-on learning through small class sizes, newly upgraded computer labs, simulated courtroom settings, and practical, career-oriented assignments. In addition to in-class learning, court clerk training at Centennial College sees students take numerous trips to the various courtrooms and tribunals in order for them to see first-hand exactly how their career roles work. Lastly, the program offers a practical on-the-job experience. “The unique thing about [this court clerk training] is that it contains a practicum portion. We have an assimilated courtroom within Centennial College, so the students will actually be able to practice taking an oath and presenting before judges,” says Patty-Ann Sullivan, the program coordinator.

In order to graduate from the court clerk training program, with its focus on Municipal Court Training, students are required to attain a minimum C grade average and an overall minimum GPA of 2.0.

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