Jessica Johnston      
Web Coordinator
Western University

Professional Certificate in Communications & Public Relations

What are your three key strengths? (e.g., communication, creativity, organizational skills)

1. communication
2. creativity
3. organizational skills

Reason for taking course/program?

When I began working on the web, communication skills weren't all that prized for people in IT.  However, having some natural instinct for them lead to it becoming more and more of my job as it became more important as the web became more social.  I decided to take this certificate in order to get a solid foundation for my continuing work in this new area.

What three adjectives would you use to describe the course/program?

1. comprehensive
2. useful
3. educational

What stands out about what you have learned?

Integration is key – no means of communication lives in a vacuum.  Traditional public relations, print media, the web, social media – all must be coordinated and work together in order to provide the best possible front for your organization.

How are you using what you have learned, and what difference is it making in your professional and personal life?

I can now not only say 'this is how we should handle communications on this front', but I can actually come up with the documentation and paperwork – proper communication plans – to help explain it better to those who are, like me, not traditionally in a communication role.

How would you describe your experience at Continuing Studies?

It was a great experience; the professors were really interesting and sitting through 2 days solid of them talking did not feel draining or boring.  The experience of meeting other people who were doing the same certificate, and therefore returning to the same courses as you were the next month, really helped in building a feeling of community. 

How was the experience of going back to school as an adult learner?

I had always thought that I wouldn't really feel comfortable back in a classroom from that side of the desk, but I found it was much more enjoyable than anticipated.

Compared to other courses you may have taken elsewhere (other schools, in-house training), what makes Continuing Studies different?

The people – some other training I've taken, the professors and the people you're in the classroom in, they all sort of merge together.  A few months later, I couldn't tell you anything about them.  The level of engagement and the quality of the people who are teaching at Continuing Studies make a huge difference.

One of the greatest advantages of working at a University is the fact that there are so many opportunities for learning. You are surrounded by courses and classes on so many different subjects that there's something for everyone, and it's a shame to not take advantage of it.  The ability to take these courses through Continuing Studies and directly apply them to my job here at Western made a huge difference not only to how well I could do my job, but also to my satisfaction with being a Western employee.