CED Certificate Program: Changes and Applications for Fall 2020

As you all probably know, Covid-19 has dramatically changed the way higher education is being delivered across Canada. Although this time has been challenging for everyone, it is also more important than ever that we focus on learning and capacity building. The economy that emerges out of the pandemic will need to pivot to incorporate more social, environmental, and culturally-inclusive values. This is a very important moment for us as a society, and SFU CED will contribute as best we can by continuing to train and support our economic leaders across Western Canada.

So for the coming year, we will be altering the way we deliver the program in order to respond to the realities of Covid-19. All the curriculum and primary instructors will remain the same, but the following changes will be made to ensure that students can learn and complete the certificate program:

1. All classes will be held online for 2020-2021. Usually we have two one-week intensives in Vancouver. However, this year since it is unclear whether or not travel will be possible in the Fall, we will be moving all courses on line. This is a very difficult decision to make since we believe in the face-to-face cohort model, we also believe that this will allow students to join the program who have previously found travel to be a barrier.
2. Most courses will consist of video learning, at your own pace. In an effort to make courses more flexible for students who are balancing work and home life, we will be transitioning many of our online courses to recorded modules that students can review at their own pace. We will still be connecting students to each other and instructors through real-time class sessions, but these will be fewer in number across the certificate term.
3. Economic resilience will have a greater emphasis in the program curriculum. We already have coursework in economic resilience, but we want to support students who may be working diligently over the next year to rebuild and future-proof their local economies. So in addition to the coursework on resilience, we will also be weaving economic recovery and planning throughout the program material to support students in a challenging time.
4. CED projects will still be the primary practice method of the program, but with some tweaks. Generally students work on a community-based project over the program year and present it at the final intensive to receive their certificate. However, during the pandemic we have found that it is very difficult to do community engagement when you can’t meet with people in your community! Students will still be required to do CED projects to complete the program, but we will accept a broader array of project types, including those that may be research-based rather than community-based. If there is the possibility to meet in the spring of 2021, we may host a mini-intensive in Vancouver to celebrate and do project presentations, but this will be optional only and students who can’t attend will be able to present online.
5. Tuition will be reduced to $3,995 for this term only. We recognize that part of the value of the program is the cohort model and the many close working relationships that are developed. We will continue to support our students’ professional and social growth in every way we can, but we can’t in good conscience charge the full tuition value if we can’t deliver the same benefits that every other cohort receives. Hopefully this will also enable students to apply who have had previous financial barriers.

Thank you to all the students, alumni, and instructors who continue to support and believe in our program! We are looking forward to welcoming a new cohort in the fall of 2020, and are striving to make it the best we can. If you’re interested in applying for this year, please fill out our pre-application form to get on the list. Full applications will be open in early June.