Continuing Education is offering a variety of learning opportunities this winter. Explore certificates, courses, and workshops designed to enhance current skillsets, acquire new skills, and support the achievement of professional goals.

University of Windsor staff, students, alumni, and Hire UWindsor Partners are eligible for discounts on most offerings.

Introduction to Microsoft Excel

Learn the principles of data collection and analysis, building functional spreadsheets, Excel tools, and macros for real-world applications. Starts Jan. 10, online.

Electric Vehicle Powertrain Systems

This course covers key aspects of state-of-the-art EVs: powertrain architecture, component design based on vehicle dynamics and drive cycle, electric motor technologies, power electronics, powertrain control, testing, and battery storage and charging. Starts Jan. 11, online.

Fundamentals of Web Design

Individuals with no prior knowledge of web development can take this course to learn basics of web design, including an introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaCcript. This course is part of the Certificate in Front End Web Development. Starts Jan. 15, online.

Kaizen: The Foundation of Lean Culture

Taught by award-winning continuous improvement leader Sardar Asif Khan, this course will guide learners through the journey of building a continuous improvement mindset, methods on applying proven process improvement tools to a variety of areas of business operations and creating a high-level process flow diagram for their organization. Starts Jan. 16, online.

The Fundamentals of Race and Anti-Black Racism

Through case studies and the sharing of experiences, participants explore their own relationships to power, privilege, and oppression to enhance their awareness within their personal and professional interactions. Limited spots are available for active full-time and part-time employees to receive $100 off towards the course fee, made available through the Department of Human Resources. Starts Jan. 25, online.

Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program Level 1

In collaboration with Siemens and the Faculty of Engineering, SMSCP content teaches technical skills, and stresses trouble-shooting and system-based technical thinking via hands-on training. The SMSCP is a world-class industry certification. Starts Jan. 26, in-person.

Project Management Courses

Don’t miss these offerings to elevate your project management skills:

• Accelerated Project Management Certificate
  Project Management Essentials starts Jan. 31, online.

• PMP® Exam Prep
  The course is an intense review of the Project Management Professional exam material. Starts Mar. 31, online.

Health Informatics

An introductory program that provides an overview of health informatics management and health information systems. It is ideal for individuals who are taking the first step towards exploring a potential career in health informatics, or a role that would require fundamental knowledge in digital health. Starts Feb. 3, online.

miniMBA

In six interactive online courses, the miniMBA will provide you with a comprehensive overview of core business functions. Learn the essentials through short courses in accounting, finance, marketing, human resources management, data analytics, and strategic management. Courses within the program can be taken individually. Take all six to receive the miniMBA Certificate. Starts Feb. 3, online.

Writing Foundations – Improve Precision

This course is composed of four workshops, each targeting essential skills for clear, concise, and persuasive written communication in any educational or workplace setting. Starts Feb. 3, online.

Intellectual Property Law for Creative Entrepreneurs

Offered in partnership with Ontario College of Art and Design University of School of Continuing Studies, this certificate explores copyright law, industrial design law, graphic design law, trademarks, IP law strategy, and Indigenous IP law. Starts Feb. 5, asynchronous, online.

English for Workplace Communication in Canada

These instructor-led modules in speaking, listening, writing, and reading are designed to build fluency and enhance interactions with colleagues in English. Focus on one or take all four modules. Starts Feb 6, online.

University of Windsor Lab School: Strings & Flute

Music instruction for students ages 4-17 who wish to study the violin, viola, cello, string bass, or flute through a curriculum that includes group class instruction, theory and master classes, chamber music, and performance opportunities at the School of Creative Arts. Classes are open to beginners and intermediate-level students to complement their current private lessons for additional practice in a group setting. Starts Feb. 10, in-person.

Constructive Conflict Management Workshop

This workshop teaches conflict transformation, fostering collaboration, and boosting confidence in sharing and influencing ideas. Analyze workplace scenarios to understand conflict sources, motivations, and work towards constructive solutions. One day: Feb. 10, online.

Introduction to Critical Care

This introductory course guides nursing professionals through evidence informed nursing interventions, high-level clinical judgement, and professional practice skills required to care for patients in the critical care area. Starts Mar. 4, online with self-paced modules and an in-person simulation. Visit the website for the full schedule.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Workplace

This course offers a roadmap and tools for organizations to co-create equitable and inclusive workplace practices emphasizing the value of diversity and inclusion. This course is divided into two, three-hour sessions taking place online on April 8 and 10.

Applied Leadership Program

Make professional connections and gain practical leadership experience through expert coaching and leadership challenges presented by an industry project partner. Starts April 18, in-person.

To view the most up-to-date Continuing Education courses, programs, and workshops, visit continue.uwindsor.ca. To inquire about corporate offerings and discounts, email continue@uwindsor.ca.

Faculty of Human Kinetics doctoral candidate Katie Hirsch has received global recognition for elevating student voices in the areas of sport and exercise psychology and motor behaviour.

Hirsch, a member of the Sport Psychology and Physical Activity Research Collaborative (SPPARC) Lab in the Department of Kinesiology, has spent the last year as the student representative to the board of directors of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity. NASPSPA recently recognized her for exceptional service to the organization.

“Katie was not satisfied with status quo and sought to improve the student experience at NASPSPA and provide opportunities for more student voices at the table,” said president Jackie Goodway and executive director Penny McCullagh. “Katie implemented a number of new initiatives that moved the student experience to a new level.”

Hirsch founded and ran the first NASPSPA student advisory council and helped develop its student ambassador program.

She designed and organized workshops for students on such professional development topics as job hunting, working in industry, and mental health and wellness. She also developed a movement challenge event which raised money to help students attend NASPSPA’s annual conference.

NASPSPA is a multidisciplinary association of 670 scholars from around the world in the areas of behavioural sciences and related professions. It is the pre-eminent international organization focusing on motor behaviour, motor learning, motor control, motor development, and sport and exercise psychology.

Kinesiology professor Todd Loughead, Hirsch’s graduate advisor, said he was thrilled to see her recognized for her service.

“Her work ethic, dedication, going above and beyond, and truly wanting to make a difference is what has distinguished Katie from her peers,” Dr. Loughead said. “It is a true honour and privilege to work with Katie. I’m very proud of all her accomplishments, including her work for NASPSPA.”

—Sarah Sacheli

By developing a technique to measure how long it takes each cell type in the bloodstream to divide, Brian DeVeale hopes to reveal cancer-causing mechanisms.

An assistant professor of biomedical sciences, he will begin “Defining relative cell cycle lengths in mixed cell populations,” after receiving a one-year $25,000 WE-Spark Igniting Discovery grant funded by the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association.

“I’m extremely grateful,” says Dr. DeVeale.“We can’t do what I believe will be high-impact early stage research without this kind of support.”

The plan is to develop a technique to measure the cell cycle length of all cell types in the human bloodstream, and then use it to detect and dissect molecular stages of transformation.

“Despite division kinetics being a fundamental aspect of cell biology, the relative cell cycle lengths of distinct cell types during development and homeostasis remain largely unknown,” DeVeale says.

“We’ll look at how long it takes every cell type in the bloodstream to divide and how different mutations driving blood cancers influence cell division.”

He thinks this could be used for measuring what happens normally to better understand what goes wrong in genetically defined cancers.

“Not having that basic understanding of the normal division kinetics is problematic because we don’t have a reference from which to measure deviations such as those that occur in cancer,” he says.

The technique and focus on cell cycle regulation could also be applied to understand division of hematopoietic stem cells and their development for regenerative medicine.

“Looking long-term, if the technique is developed, this information could also be used to optimize the path for expanding donor populations for transplants.”

The Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association was founded in July 2005 by Bryan and Joanne Bedard. The couple was inspired to act after losing their daughter Katelyn to leukemia at the age of 3, when she was not able to find a bone marrow donor. The association raises awareness, provides financial support, and helps fund research.

“We are pleased to hear that Brian’s work really aligns with our objectives,” says Bryan Bedard.

“We’ve raised almost a million over the years, added 10,000 people to the bone marrow registry, and we want to sponsor research.”

Jason McBride, a Toronto-based journalist and the author of Eat Your Mind, the 2022 biography of the pioneering experimental novelist Kathy Acker, will explore the challenges of the form in a free public presentation Thursday, Nov. 30.

Titled “Autobiography, Autofiction, Autoeroticism,” the lecture is hosted by the Humanities Research Group.

“My talk will focus on the challenges of writing a biography of a figure like Acker, who refuses ideas of coherent subjectivity in her work — and life — while also compulsively, perpetually mining her biography for that work,” McBride says.

“I’ll touch on how Acker prefigured some of the most popular autofictional writers of the moment, why autofiction continues to be such a compelling microgenre, and where it might be going next.”

The event will start at 5 p.m. in the SoCA Armouries Performance Hall, 37 University Ave. East.

The Indian Student Association re-established a campus presence earlier this month, holding a dinner and dance party on Nov. 10 to celebrate Diwali.

The event drew more than 300 attendees to the student centre, including UWindsor president Robert Gordon and Clinton Beckford, vice-president, people, equity, and inclusion.

“The festival of lights, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and is traditionally celebrated with family,” says computer science student Karm Joshi, a member of the association’s executive. “We intended to recreate a home-like environment on campus for all the international students on campus.”

The club will promote Indian culture but reflect a vision of the world as “one big family,” Joshi says.

“Our philosophy encourages us to be respectful and peaceful towards all members of this global family,” he says.