A new partnership between Yorkville University and Project Management Institute – Toronto will soon begin reaping benefits for Bachelor of Business Administration students in Ontario.
Under the agreement, PMI Toronto will offer BBA students studying toward their degree with a Specialization in Project Management a number of perks, including: a customized mentorship program; volunteer opportunities within various PMI-organized community or industry initiatives; complimentary event registrations at PMI Toronto events and assistance in securing both guest speakers and sponsors for their capstone projects.
“As part of the partnership, students can expect support, networking and guidance from subject matter experts and seasoned leaders in the project management profession. This will be offered through joint venture events, networking sessions, job fairs, volunteer opportunities and more, all aimed at further developing the skills needed in the industry,” said Claire Dobbin, PMI Toronto’s Director B&C and Academia.
“Learning from project management professionals will allow the students to be better equipped for entering the workforce upon graduation. The best way to take advantage of this partnership is to participate in these offerings marketed through the Yorkville or PMI Toronto websites.”
According to Yorkville University professor Dr. Oluchi Oti, the partnership with PMI Toronto was spurred by a conversation she had with final semester BBA students about a need for connection to the wider project management community.
“This partnership helps to bridge that divide…The membership benefits we’re talking about will help students grow their network, contribute to their local communities and help take their careers to the next level,” said Oti, who played an instrumental role in organizing the partnership with PMI Toronto – the second largest PMI chapter in the world.
“These are benefits that I think students will definitely take advantage of.”
That sentiment was echoed by BBA student Jay Lodaya, who said he personally plans to capitalize on all the networking opportunities made available to him and his classmates through PMI Toronto – a volunteer-driven organization that boasts more than 5,700 members representing experienced professionals and students from all industries.
“With this partnership, a lot more sources become more easily and readily available to us. We now have so many more people in the profession to have a conversation with,” he said.
“We can go to industry events and have conversations with professionals regarding how things are going in the industry, what we should be doing, how we should be progressing forward. We can get tips that will help us prepare for the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) and make networking connections for the future when we graduate.”
Another way students can ensure they’re reaping all the benefits of this new partnership is by getting involved with the soon-to-be-launched Yorkville University Project Management (YUPM) Student Guild, Oti said.
The student-led association will present those wishing to pursue a career in project management with the opportunity to “organize around themselves.”
“They will gain the opportunity, as members of the Student Guild, to gain leadership, communication, organization, teamwork and networking skills,” Oti said, noting that the Guild will host ‘Day in the Life’ events, in which Yorkville will host professional project managers.
“We will bring in project managers from the technology, manufacturing, health care, IT, construction and so many other different professional industries – people who have gone through the student experience and have had similar life journeys and who will be able to speak to students and answer their questions.”
Those interested in joining Yorkville’s Project Management Student Guild are asked to keep an eye out for a Call of Interest, which will be sent out to students in the coming days. Yorkville will also host a town hall meeting to provide students with more information about the Guild in the near future.
