The thousands of people employed in the Sea to Sky's ever-expanding tourism industry can now enhance their skills with a new program offered through Capilano College.
The college has partnered with Royal Roads University, based in Victoria, to create the Graduate Certificate for Strategic Leadership in Tourism, a program that will expose students to a six-month training course that will study the corridor's shifting trends of tourism.
"We're looking at the whole Howe Sound corridor," said Capilano's Tourism and Outdoor Recreation program co-ordinator, Jonathan Rouse. "The economies are shifting to a much more service-based economy with tourism playing a big role, so Squamish is an incredible part of that laboratory up and down the coast for students to study and to become much more in tune and aware."
The program is designed for tourism professionals who want to enhance their abilities while continuing their professional activities. The intensive six-month program combines short-term residencies in Whistler with on-line learning.
Capilano has worked with Royal Roads on past initiatives, said Rouse. And with the university's expanded involvement in tourism through the Masters in Art and Leadership Training program, the two schools decided to form a partnership where Capilano provides the tourism component in the corridor. Graduates will be granted the certificate through Royal Roads.
According to the university website, Royal Roads University is designed to "meet the needs of learners and the requirements of the global marketplace by offering a combination of highly focused professional programs and an accessible learning model." Royal Roads focuses on current needs and trends in business and society through Masters degree and undergraduate completion degree programs, meant to apply "real-world relevance and experience" in all programs.
The new tourism program starts Oct. 24 with a five-day residency in Whistler. More information can be found at www.royalroads.ca.
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