Advanced Diploma in IT Innovation and Design (Co-op Optional)

at Conestoga College - Waterloo Campus Canada

This program is designed to help students start a career as a baker or pastry chef. It will include practical, theoretical and hands-on training in areas of baking, baking equipment usage, baking and pastry fundamentals, food costing, cake decorating, sanitation and safety and pastry management. Under faculty guidance, working individually and as part of a team, students will develop core skills in specialized areas, including: chocolate and confections, wedding and specialty cakes, tarts and pastries, plated desserts, artisan breads and breakfast pastries, petits fours, laminated dough and viennoiseries, ice cream and sorbets.

Profound changes to the world of computer applications have created the need for a new kind of software development professional. As a result of explosive growth in the use of mobile devices, a growing appetite for consumer applications across all demographics, and emerging digital technologies, there is a need for entrepreneurial savvy within Canadian companies to effectively compete globally. This demands computer professionals with skills in graphic design, content creation, User Experience (UX), software development, marketing, and business models in order to design and market new and competitive software applications. The optional co-op stream includes four consecutive four-month work terms.

Co-op information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn money while you apply what you've learned in a real workplace environment. Visit Co-operative education for more information.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Applying to the co-op stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Not every student who meets academic eligibility requirements will be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum overall 80% weighted average in Year 1 with a maximum one dropped or failed course during the first year.
• International students studying outside of Canada - ‘out of country’ - cannot apply to the co-op stream of their program. Students must be in Canada to apply to the co-op stream of their program. Students are currently experiencing longer than usual wait times for work permits. Work permit applications need to be completed more than 6 months in advance of a work term. International students studying in Canada will require work permits to utilize the co-op job board for job search and to accept employment. Please be advised that there will be no co-op program service fee refunds after the program withdrawal for refund date. Students that have not received their work permit and choose to remain in co-op after the program withdrawal for refund date do so at their own risk and will not be refunded. If you are concerned about receiving your work permit in time to achieve co-op employment, please discuss your situation with your co-op advisor as early as possible.

Today's manufacturing sector requires highly skilled individuals with in-depth knowledge of current quality assurance and management practices. If you have the desire to be part of a quality movement, and want hands-on experience with the tools to support your career goals, then this program will be of interest to you. This two-semester Quality Assurance Manufacturing and Management Ontario College Graduate Certificate will provide you with the knowledge and techniques to improve the delivery and quality of goods and services. This program focuses on the use of modern quality improvement methods that support the achievement of performance excellence in manufacturing and associated business processes. A combination of theoretical and practical learning opportunities will prepare you for a variety of management and quality assurance organizational opportunities.

Program Outcomes:-

• Implement and document quality processes that ensure conformance to international quality standards.
• Evaluate the results of experiments for process improvement and product development to form recommendations using various process improvement tools.
• Evaluate quality issues, opportunities, and performance metrics using current and relevant tools such as Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Root Cause Analysis.
• Lead advanced product quality planning activities in an industrial environment using accepted quality assurance techniques including Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP).
• Plan the implementation of quality management processes within an industrial organization using accepted philosophies.
• Select the correct device or instrument to accurately measure product parameters and conduct a Measurement System Analysis (MSA).
• Conduct audits for Quality and Environmental systems in order to report findings and recommendations to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Apply test procedures and techniques to confirm that product design requirements are met.
• Communicate technical information effectively to customers and various internal stakeholders in management, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, and sales.
• Interpret information from a variety of technical and specialized sources to support quality processes.

This two-year graduate certificate is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to effectively initiate, plan, control and commission construction projects. Students will study the investment appraisal of development projects; planning, scheduling, budgeting and control of construction project; and soft skills related to effective leadership, communication and negotiation. Students will learn to integrate construction methods, building code, and lean construction techniques into their projects. Learning will be enhanced through the use of case studies, group work and field trips. The capstone project will enable students to apply, integrate and synthesize knowledge learned into a real-world project. The co-op or guided career management term will provide students with an opportunity to apply and practice knowledge and skills in preparation for the work environment. This program will prepare students to take various professional certification exams with main focus on CAPM (Certified Associate Project Manager), PMP (Project Management Professional), PQS (Professional Quantity Surveyor designation) and Gold Seal certification. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term instead of the Guided Career Management course. A laptop is required for in-class assignments and project work.

Note: This program is designed for international students wishing to pursue studies in the field of construction management.

This program provides students with an overview of the hospitality and tourism industry along with entry-level management skills for this very diverse and integrated industry. Students will receive a broad base of business and entrepreneur skills ensuring a strong understanding of financial, customer service, marketing, and the human resources aspects of the industry. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

Program Outcomes

• Support an industry and workplace service culture by adopting a positive attitude and professional decorum, accommodating diverse and special needs, and contributing as a team member.
• Deliver customer service and solutions that anticipate, meet and/or exceed individual expectations, as well as organizational expectations, standards and objectives.
• Use marketing concepts, market research, social networks, sales strategies, relationship management skills and product knowledge to promote and sell tourism products, services and customer experiences.
• Apply business principles as well as basic accounting, budgeting, financial and administration skills to support the effective management and operation of a variety of organizations delivering tourism products and services.
• Comply with relevant organization and workplace systems, processes, policies, standards, legal obligations and regulations, and apply risk management principles, to support and maintain efficient, safe, secure, accessible and healthy tourism operations.
• Use appropriate technologies to enhance the quality and delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences, to measure the effectiveness of tourism operations and to participate in tourism development.
• Keep current with tourism trends and issues, and interdependent relationships in the broader tourism industry* sectors to improve work performance and guide career development.
• Use leadership, teamwork, conflict and relationship management skills and tools, as well as knowledge of organizational behaviour, employment standards and human rights to contribute to a positive work environment.
• Respond to issues and dilemmas arising in the delivery of tourism products, services and customer experiences by using and promoting ethical behaviour and best practices of corporate social responsibility and environmental sustainability
• Organize new tourism products for clients based on an analysis of local and international destinations to establish connections with industry leaders.
• Examine economic, political, social, global and intercultural factors that influence the management of travel services, marketing strategies, customer retention and sales programs.

Applying to the Co-op Stream

• All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
• To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum 70% session weighted average, with no dropped or failed courses during the term that occurs two terms prior to the co-op work term.

Co-op Information

• Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
• The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

Computer Programming and Analysis is a three-year advanced diploma program in which students learn the latest skills needed by developers in industry. The program emphasizes problem-solving skills using the latest versions of Microsoft, Oracle, Java and open-source software to develop enterprise, internet and mobile applications. Object-oriented analysis, design, agile methodologies and programming techniques are mastered and applied throughout the program.Students learn through a combination of theory and practice, applying their knowledge to hands-on assignments and challenging projects. Complementary courses in areas such as mathematics, accounting and communications support the core IT courses. All of these skills are then applied to a capstone group project in the last term in which students can build a major business application for a local business, providing them with a realistic, practical experience. The optional co-op stream includes four consecutive four-month work terms. 

The Event Management program is a one-year, full-time graduate certificate program that is specifically designed to meet the needs of a growing industry in the planning and management of events.

The program will provide graduate students with specialized training in event management and will assist students in obtaining and developing the skills and understanding necessary to plan, promote and operate events for the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors.

Companies that embrace modern information technology must deal with very large amounts of data. This "Big Data" often shows patterns and trends on which to make good business decisions. To support Business Analysts, students in this program focus on the collection, processing and presentation of these large data sets. Developing skills in solution development, database design (both SQL and NoSQL), data processing, data warehousing and data visualization help build a solid foundation in this important support role. Through applied learning techniques such as problem-based learning, students will be able to apply their learning to real world problems. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

In this two-semester program, you study and practice carpentry skills related to the interior and exterior construction of residential and light-commercial buildings. The focus of the program is to provide graduates with the skills to gain entry-level employment in residential and commercial construction. The program provides students with safety training (general and specific) and skills development in a number of the construction areas. Graduates may be eligible to enter directly into the second year of the Carpentry and Renovation Technician diploma program.

Computer Programmer is a two-year diploma program designed for students who wish to learn the latest skills needed by business application developers in industry, but want to graduate sooner than allowed by the three-year Computer Programmer/Analyst program. The program emphasizes problem-solving skills using the latest versions of Microsoft, Java and open-source software to develop business and web applications. Object-oriented analysis, design, agile methodologies and programming techniques are mastered and applied throughout the program. 

Students learn through a combination of theory and practice, applying their knowledge to hands-on assignments and challenging projects. Complementary courses in areas such as mathematics, accounting and communications support the core IT courses. All of these skills are then applied to a capstone group project in the last year in which students build a major business application, providing them with experience of the complete application development cycle.