UBC graduates work, teach, and learn around the globe, with many reaching back to their alma mater to connect with peers as well as to take part in ongoing learning opportunities. As busy people try to find new ways to learn, there is an increased appetite for quality professional and career development connections.
Three years ago, alumniUBC launched a new Career Development Program, featuring free one-hour webinars for all alumni as well as community members. With 33 webinars over three years, the program brings over 2,550 participants together with facilitators, often UBC alumni themselves, who are keen to share their knowledge and expertise with their fellow alumni.
The goal, according to Nicole Yeasting, Manager, Alumni Career Education with alumniUBC, is providing career education for every stage of their professional life in a truly global community.
“The objective of the career development program is to provide innovative programs and resources to connect alumni with their fellow UBC graduates. To empower them to design a meaningful and fulfilling work life and feeling confident in taking that next step in their career, whatever that career may be,” says Ms. Yeasting.
“It’s inspiring,” she adds, “We’ve seen participants from over 20 countries take part in our webinars including Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Malawi to name a few, who are taking part in our webinars, even in the middle of the night their time. It speaks to the quality of content that they have come to expect from alumniUBC.”
Past webinar topics span a wide swath of interest, including how to overcome fear during career transition, inclusive hiring and neurodiversity in the workplace, building a culture of employee engagement, cannabis regulation in the workplace, how to thrive at work, and the art of giving effective feedback. Key to the success of the sessions is the facilitators, volunteers who are deeply knowledgeable and passionate about their topics.
While the webinars are designed for UBC alumni, anyone can take part in these online sessions, including UBC faculty, staff, donors, and students, as well as members of the community.
“By engaging with our alumni and the community, be they local, national, or global, everyone can learn from one another,” says Ms. Yeasting. “And when alumni are engaged and are learning from each other, that, to us, is success.”
The alumniUBC Career Development Program continues to hold noon-hour webinars this spring. With many people working remotely right now, Ms. Yeasting is hopeful that more alumni and community members will be able to take part as a way to build their connections and skills to be resilient in the face of change.
Upcoming sessions, as well as past recordings, are available at https://www.alumni.ubc.ca/careers/alumni-career-webinars/.
UBC is committed to working with alumniUBC to broaden and deepen engagement through programs that cultivate pride, empower personal growth, support professional development and enable contribution, as part of Strategy 18: Alumni Engagement.