SFU Continuing Studies

SFU Continuing Studies
Name	SFU Continuing Studies
Established	1974
Type	Continuing education division
Parent	Simon Fraser University
City	Burnaby
Province	British Columbia
Country	Canada

SFU Continuing Studies is the continuing education and professional development division of Simon Fraser University, offering non-credit and for-credit programs, certificates, workshops, and corporate training. The unit operates across Burnaby, Vancouver, and Surrey campuses and collaborates with provincial and national organizations to provide lifelong learning pathways. Programming spans areas such as business, technology, health, arts, and public policy, engaging learners from local communities to international professionals.

Overview

SFU Continuing Studies traces its modern role to initiatives at Simon Fraser University and partnerships with institutions like British Columbia Institute of Technology and University of British Columbia to expand access to adult learners. The division coordinates with regional entities such as the City of Burnaby, City of Vancouver, and Surrey City Council while aligning with provincial frameworks from Province of British Columbia ministries. Its offerings link to professional standards from bodies including the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia, the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia, and industry associations such as the Information Technology Association of Canada and the BC Chamber of Commerce. Campus locations connect to landmarks like Graham House (Burnaby), transit nodes such as Metrotown station, and nearby universities like Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Academic Programs and Certificates

Programs include post-degree certificates, continuing professional development, micro-credentials, and non-credit courses across disciplines such as entrepreneurship, data analytics, project management, and digital marketing. Certificate pathways reference credentialing comparators like Project Management Professional, Google Cloud Certified, and accreditation frameworks similar to those used by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and ISO. Courses often incorporate content from case studies drawn from corporations like BC Hydro, Telus, Canfor, and Vancouver Coastal Health and draw instructors with affiliations to institutions such as BC Cancer Agency, Fraser Health, Simon Fraser Public Square, and research centres including the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. Academic collaborations extend to initiatives such as Mitacs, MIT-linked exchange programs, and curriculum pilots reflecting recommendations from commissions like the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Sciences.

Professional Development and Corporate Training

Corporate training units deliver customized programs for employers including Royal Bank of Canada, Vancouver Police Department, Suncor Energy, BC Ferries, and public-sector partners like Health Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada. Training services cover leadership development associated with models from Harvard Business School Executive Education, change management frameworks influenced by Kotter's 8-Step Process, and quality standards akin to Six Sigma. Continuing Studies' corporate offerings coordinate with procurement and human resources structures similar to those at BC Public Service and large employers such as Rogers Communications and Canadian Pacific Kansas City.

Online and Continuing Education Format

Delivery modalities include synchronous live webinars, asynchronous modules, blended learning, and fully online certificate programs using platforms comparable to Moodle, Canvas, and conferencing tools like Zoom Video Communications and Microsoft Teams. Online program design references best practices from Quality Matters, competency frameworks used by Association of American Colleges and Universities, and micro-credential trends championed by organizations such as Credly. Coursetech partnerships and pilot projects have paralleled initiatives by Coursera, edX, and regional digital skilling efforts like BC Digital Supercluster.

Admissions, Tuition, and Funding Options

Admissions pathways range from open-enrollment short courses to selective certificate cohorts that evaluate professional experience, portfolios, or prerequisite credentials from institutions like Douglas College, Capilano University, and international universities such as University of British Columbia Okanagan. Tuition models include per-course fees, cohort-based pricing, and corporate invoicing mechanisms similar to those used by LinkedIn Learning for Business and other continuing education units across Canadian universities. Financial supports align with provincial and federal funding programs administered by entities such as StudentAid BC, Employment Insurance (EI), and workforce development initiatives from WorkBC. Employer-sponsored training, tax incentives under rules from the Canada Revenue Agency, and scholarships from foundations like the Vancouver Foundation also factor into funding options.

Partnerships and Community Engagement

The division maintains partnerships with civic, Indigenous, and community organizations including Métis National Council, First Nations Health Authority, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society, and local arts institutions such as the Vancouver Art Gallery and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Collaborative projects and public events have linked to media partners like CBC/Radio-Canada and civic dialogues coordinated with SFU Public Square and municipal bodies including TransLink and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. Research and workforce initiatives coordinate with provincial agencies such as Innovate BC, national networks like Mitacs, and international collaborators including UNESCO and OECD to address regional skills gaps and lifelong learning strategies.

Category:Simon Fraser University Category:Continuing education in Canada