Three new graduate certificate programs are on the roster of choices for prospective Niagara College students this year – and they’re right in step with current times and an increasing demand for talented professionals.

The College’s School of Business and Management, based at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake, has launched Supply Chain Management and Business Analytics programs, while the School of Media Studies, based in Welland, is now offering a program perfect for the digital age: Social Media Management.

Supply Chain Management

As supply chain issues continue to dominate headlines in early 2022, NC’s School of Business and Management is ready to welcome its first class of Supply Chain Management students this spring.

The one-year graduate certificate program will prepare students to work in an industry that influences the purchasing, production, warehousing and distribution of goods.

“Supply chains, as we have come to learn during the pandemic, underpin the functioning of commerce. Something that was previously almost invisible or unacknowledged by many is now the stuff of headline news,” said Adam Weaver, associate dean of Business and Management. “Demand for talented supply chain managers is definitely increasing.”

Program coordinator Rob Shepherd acknowledged that launching the program in supply chain management has never been timelier.

“I have never seen this much of a buzz regarding sector trends and ways the global supply chains operate. They are critical to commerce and society and support our basic way of life,” he said. “Think about the process of making an online purchase. You go to a website, order what you require, pay for it, and in a day or two, the item arrives at your doorstep. That is the dynamic and the reality of today’s supply chains.”

Graduates of NC’s Supply Chain Management program will receive advanced standing toward a Certified Supply Chain Management Professional (SCC-CSCMP) designation – the highest and most recognized professional designation in the field of supply chain management in Canada – thanks to the program’s credit transfer articulation agreement with Supply Chain Canada (SCC). Known as the voice of the industry in Canada, SCC sets the standards for excellence and ethics and is the principal source of professional accreditation in Canadian supply chain management.

Because the new program will be affiliated with the SAP University Alliance, it will deliver curriculum in SAP enterprise resource planning systems.

“SAP is used by many, many organizations worldwide as their operational business platform,” said Shepherd. “The competencies students acquire are directly transferable to the world of work.”

Shepherd noted that the program will help address a shortage in talent within the sector. DHL, a global leader in the logistics and supply chain management industry, estimated that the demand for supply chain professionals exceeds its supply by a ratio of six to one, and the U.S Bureau of Labor estimated that jobs in the sector will grow by 26%.

“Opportunities are and will continue to grow as global supply chains advance and evolve,” said Shepherd.

The first Supply Chain Management class will begin in May. Visit niagaracollege.ca/business/program/supply-chain-management.

Business Analytics

What do the movies you watch, ads you view, items you purchase and decisions your favourite sports team makes all have in common? They’re all driven by analytics!

Designed to prepare learners for high-demand roles in data management, students will learn how to pull meaningful insights from large complex data sets to support data-driven decision-making. Students will use industry-standard software and tools to create visualizations and interpret data in this hands-on, lab-based program. In a capstone course, they will also create a final project to solve a real-world problem. In addition to its technical components, the program will also address data ethics, security and management decisions.

“Business analytics demonstrates that decision-making is becoming the product of more elaborate forms of evaluation and calculation. What is considered data – and what can be analyzed for the sake of identifying significant, valuable patterns – has expanded considerably in our digital age,” said Weaver. “Business analytics speaks to the importance of uncovering sometimes previously unrecognized relationships, and sourcing data – often creatively – that helps to highlight those relationships.”

Program coordinator Nick Farnell noted that there has been a positive response to courses introduced over the past few years by the School of Business and Management focused on data and analytics. The program was launched in response to a need for skilled professionals in data and analytics. A market report from the Government of Canada (Canadian Occupational Projections System) gave its highest rating – good— to job prospects for data analysts in Ontario over the next three years, and noted that projected labour demand in Canada is expected to exceed supply during the 2019-2028 period, with 18,000 new job openings and 16,700 new job seekers.

“Analytics has made its way into every industry,” he said. “There is a growing demand for professionals to understand analytics and be comfortable using data to help make decisions.”

The program is geared to students from a variety of backgrounds – from business and HR to marketing, sports and more – who seek to add a layer of applied analytical problem solving to their area of expertise. It offers flexible, hybrid learning options and is available in a condensed eight-month format, designed to appeal to a variety of learners, including those already in the workforce who seek to upgrade their credentials.

NC will welcome its inaugural Business Analytics class in September 2022. Visit niagaracollege.ca/business/program/analytics.

Social Media Management 

NC’s Social Media Management program was designed to prepare students for a modern, in-demand career in the emerging field of social media management. The comprehensive program covers the various aspects of social media – from analytics and strategies, and business and marketing, to content creation and management.

“NC’s program stands out because we will offer students an understanding of all the main pillars of social media, which will equip them with the tools they need to succeed as effective social media managers,” said Charles Kopun, associate dean, School of Media Studies.

The new program was launched in response to the increasing demand for social media professionals, not only within the traditional media landscape, but across many different fields.

“Integrated into the fabric of traditional media, social media has evolved with technology and now cuts through every swath of media out there,” said Kopun. “CEOs everywhere are embracing data, the importance of understanding their audience and reaching them in a digital environment.”

“The sector is exploding. There isn’t an industry or business or not-for-profit that can survive without social media strategies and implementation,” said Susan Pedler, School of Media professor. “Our students will be trained in how to use each of the various social media platforms effectively, how to create and curate focused content, how to target specific audiences and how to do comprehensive analytics.”

Students in the program will receive hands-on, in-depth training in social media management platforms, website hosting, LMS management, analytics and dashboards. With a focus on applied learning, the program offers students valuable built-in opportunities to gain experience working with real clients on social media projects before they graduate. In fact, students will be required to complete a capstone course focused on planning and leading a social media campaign for a community client.

“I’m most excited about our capstone classes. Students will be working with community clients to create effective social media campaigns for their businesses or non-profits,” said Pedler. “They’ll use analytics tools to measure their success. You can’t beat that kind of real-world experience.”

In addition to building their hard skills, such as business and marketing and content creation, students will hone their soft skills as they liaise with clients, collaborate with their team, and expand their professional network.

A newly designed content studio lab will become a hub for the program at the Welland Campus, featuring new cameras and technology, space for live interviews, content creation, video editing and livestreaming. Designed flex space in the lab will allow it to become a boardroom for strategy sessions and client meetings. Students will also have access to new mobile equipment when moving on location for livestreamed events.

The program is expected to draw a mix of those who are already in the workforce and hope to build on their social media knowledge, as well as postsecondary graduates interested in launching a social media career. It will be delivered four days a week over two terms.

NC will welcome its first class in Social Media Management in September. Visit niagaracollege.ca/media/program/social-media-management/.

Niagara College offers more than 130 diploma, bachelor degree and advanced level programs; as well as more than 600 credit, vocational and general interest Part-Time Studies courses. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, media, applied health and community safety, supported by unique learning enterprises in food, wine, beer, distilling, horticulture and esthetics. For more information visit niagaracollege.ca.

Photos:

Social Media Management web: A student holds a cellphone on campus (file photo taken prior to 2020). This photo is featured on the Social Media Management program page on the College website.

Business Analytics web: A Business student presents a business case in class (file photo taken prior to 2020). This photo is featured on the Business Analytics program page on the College website.