The Four Pillars of the Program

Our SLE has four key components:

• GNED 500 - a required General Education course entitled "Global Citizenship: From Social Analysis to Social Action".
• Portfolio Learning - the use of portfolios for you to use as evidence of your growth and understanding of global citizenship, equity, and inclusion
• Professional Development and Learning for all college staff - so that those at the front of our classrooms are well-qualified to teach GNED 500, support portfolio learning, or support the Signature Learning Experience (S.L.E.) through integration into school life and learning
• Incorporation of Global Citizenship & Equity practices across the College - asking our staff and students to live the very beliefs we hope to impart through the Signature Learning Experience (S.L.E.)

Portfolios: So Much More Than Mere Resumés

Your Signature Learning Experience (S.L.E.) Portfolio allows you to document your learning and the insights drawn from it. It should evolve as a companion piece to your standard resumé, illustrating the complete range of your more fully realized education.

There are many different ways that a portfolio documenting learning in global citizenship and equity can be of benefit in our ever-changing world. Most notably, employers today are very interested in the cultural and communications aspects of diversity that lead to greater productivity and efficiency within the workplace, as well as the potential expansion of market segments to our global world. They are also aware of the rapid rate of demographic changes: by 2011 100% of Canada's net labour market will depend on immigration.

The people running today's businesses understand the value of hiring people who have the skills to develop respectful working relationships, which work to foster productivity. They are looking for individuals who offer skills related to problem-solving, conflict resolution and ethical behaviour within the context of social, cultural and racial diversity.

Other benefits of developing an Signature Learning Experience (S.L.E.) Portfolio can include:

• Increased self-confidence and sense of self;
• Enhanced leadership abilities;
• Greater global consciousness and communal relationships;
• Competitive edge over other college graduates;
• Improved interpersonal, critical-thinking, problem-solving and written and oral communication skills;
• Ability to work cooperatively with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs;
• Positive relationship building skills.

With portfolios increasingly becoming a professional and industry expectation, this particular portfolio will distinguish you in the workforce as someone prepared for the challenges of today - and tomorrow.