Centennial College’s mission is to prepare students for career success, and our industry partners are essential to making that happen. The involvement of our partners includes industry professionals shaping the content of our programs through Program Advisory Committees (PACs), ensuring students acquire the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. It also includes hosting co-op placements and employment opportunities for our graduates and students. This connection with industry runs both ways, and our partners may access the College’s resources to solve their own business problems by engaging in applied research projects, as well as hiring from our talented pool of students.
To support these partnerships, the College has created SOLV, a special service that connects companies to Centennial College with the aim of enhancing their business. SOLV provides consulting on College services to meet an organization’s business needs. These services could include access to student talent through our cooperative (co-op) education program or special research and innovation projects. Industry professionals can also engage with the College by becoming a PAC member or being a guest speaker. SOLV can also help organizations with corporate training, professional development, funding, and business start-up and scaling solutions.
We value our industry connections, and when we are not working with them, we are thanking them for making the College what it is, through special events recognition events.
On May 23rd, Centennial College hosted its 2019 PAC Recognition Event. Approximately 100 of the members that form our PACs got the chance to network with College educators and other industry professionals while tasting dishes made by our own culinary arts students. During the event, Dr. Marilyn Herie, Vice-President Academic and Chief Learning Officer, thanked PAC members for their significant impact on student success. Andrew Petrou, Director of Strategic Initiatives and External Relations (SIER) and Executive Director of Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research, also provided a presentation on strategies for schools and industries to build strong connections.
Just a few days later, on May 28th, the College’s Career Services and Co-operative Education department hosted an Employer Appreciation Breakfast. This event was held to thank employers who work with us to connect students to jobs through opportunities such as co-op, job fairs, and career events. More than 50 employers participated, including Grant Thornton, Kisko Products, Mount Sinai Hospital, RBC, Scotiabank, and Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).
The keynote speaker was Patrick Famaran, Assistant Manager of Social Youth Impact and Administration of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), who presented the “Humans Wanted” report, an RBC study on how Canadian youth can thrive in an age of employment disruption. This was followed by a panel where past and present students shared their co-op experiences at Centennial, moderated by Karamjeet Singh, President of the Centennial College Student Association, Incorporated (CCSAI). Carolyn Ritchie, Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and External Relations, finished off the morning, highlighting the services offered through SOLV.
Are you interested in becoming one of our valued partners? See what we have to offer on our SOLV website. You can help us educate the next group of talented career-ready students, and we can help you take your business to the next level.
Written by: Anthony Geremia