Those of us of a certain vintage can recall a time when post-secondary education led to a singular, life-long career path; where memorization was all you needed in the classroom; traffic was virtually non-existent and almost everything was accessible within reach.
For many, however, those days are gone.
Courses offered through BCIT Flexible Learning reflect the realities of today both in and out of the classroom, allowing students to learn what they want, where they want and when they want.
“The term ‘flexible’ really refers to the natural evolution of the education delivery system, which has gone from a traditional, in-the-classroom model to a variety of different internet and computer-driven models of learning,” explains Associate Dean, Business Administration at BCIT School of Business + Media Dr. Steve Yallouz.
These programs empower learners with a wide range of applied learning, part-time courses and programs, offering the convenience to learn on their schedule. This flexibility and access to real-world knowledge provides a competitive edge essential for career growth and marketability.
Offered during evenings, on weekends, online or via a hybrid model, Flexible Learning touches upon numerous areas of study, though the program’s sweet spot lies in a few key fields: finance and accounting; human resources; operations and project management; logistics; marketing and brand consumer insights, digital art, media and design; and broadcast and media communications.
“What distinguishes what we do is that we focus on applied education,” Yallouz says. “There is a lot of theory that you can learn in a lot of other environments, but our focus is applied – it’s about getting the people who are actually doing the work in industry right now to come into the classroom.”
Part of the beauty of Flexible Learning is that these courses meet the student wherever they’re at in their educational journey: newly graduated high school students can dip their toes into courses to accurately assess their future pursuits, while mid-career employees can upskill their knowledge base to better lead their teams.
To illustrate how the workplace and education has changed, Yallouz uses his father as an example. He worked one job for his entire professional life, had a pension and could afford home ownership.
“Our kids could have 20 jobs and perhaps not a pension or a house, so it’s a different world,” Yallouz explains. “And schooling has changed, because it’s no longer about getting a mark for the sake of getting a mark. Our best students aren’t the ones who can memorize and get a good mark. Our best students understand that school is about taking risks, getting out of your comfort zone and learning something from it.”
The Flexible Learning advantage is further underscored by the fact that BCIT instructors come from the industry. These are instructors who can convey expertise and insights from the careers their students will soon enter.
“We have professionals who come in, teach and end up being that connection for a student to get a job in that field,” Yallouz says. “That story repeats itself all over this campus.”
To discover more about program offerings through BCIT Flexible Learning, visit bcit.ca/flexible-learning
