Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus Offers Business Students More Flexibility

Posted on Friday, March 4th, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many things including post-secondary education, but it also provided an opportunity for faculty at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront campus to become very adept at delivering curriculum in a virtual learning environment. Now, as COVID restrictions are loosened, faculty in the Business program are taking another step to providing students with more choice in how they access their courses.

Starting in the Fall of 2022, students enrolled in the Business program will be able to come on campus or access their classes online. The learning environment is called multi-modal. Classrooms are equipped with cameras and microphones to allow students to join from the comfort of their home, while other learners who appreciate a more traditional learning experience, can come on campus. The best part is it’s not an exclusive choice, meaning students have the flexibility to choose on a daily basis whether they want to be in class or online.

“It’s really the best of both worlds for students,” says Business Program Coordinator, Kim Drake. Drake was among the early adopters of the multi-modal approach. She tested the technology in the Fall of 2021 and learned a lot about how to engage with students who were physically in her teaching space and those who were connected through the Internet.

“Like our students, I’m still learning, but I know this is the way of the future. Students are looking for more choice and our program is well positioned to offer them this flexibility because it is theory based,” says Drake.

The College’s Business program has always been on the leading edge when adapting to technological advances. It was the first program at the Pembroke Campus to introduce mandatory laptops for students 15 years ago and when e-text books arrived, the program also embraced their use to enhance the student learning experience.

“Business is always evolving and it’s important that we demonstrate to our students that we are paying attention to how technology is changing the way businesses operate, including educational institutions, so that our students are prepared for the workforce,” says Drake.

The Business program also offers a co-op stream, an opportunity for students who maintain a high academic standing to participate in a four-month summer paid work place experience. Co-op also offers additional support to students to help them with their job search and career exploration, but most importantly it helps students gain invaluable work experience before they graduate.

(Business Program Coordinator, Kim Drake, is excited about the possibilities as the College introduces multi-modal classrooms that provide more flexibility in how students access their education.)

Past graduates have also pursued higher education by taking advantage of articulation agreements with other colleges or universities. These opportunities include Advanced Business Diplomas or a Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. This has been particularly attractive to local students who enjoy the benefits of studying in a smaller Business program with easier access to faculty and support services, before moving to a larger post-secondary school. Studying closer to home has also allowed them to save money because they didn’t have the added expense of living out of town.

The program is offered in a compressed delivery schedule. Students can earn a two-year college diploma in 16 months and now they have the flexibility to access the program without the requirement to be on campus for classes.

Applications to the Business program are available through the Ontario College Application Service. More information about the program can be found on the Pembroke Campus website at: https://www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke/program/business/

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)

 


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