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Community Education and Workforce Development: Professional/Personal Development

At Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake campus, the following professional development courses are offered:

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Management Skills for Supervisors

This course is a three-part certificate program for all supervisory levels. Managers are offered hands-on training and experience to equip them with the necessary skills and tools required to be an effective manager. These courses will be delivered virtually and fully instructor led.

Topics include:

  • Communicating Effectively and Persuasively in a Team Environment
  • Recognizing a Win-lose Situation
  • Handling Job Related Problems
  • Giving Effective Feedback
  • Enhancing Interviewing Techniques
  • Workplace Rumors
  • Conducting a Coaching Session
  • Making Quality Decisions
  • Improving Relationships
  • Building Consensus

Part 1 - Interpersonal Skills  •  XWRK 0490

This workshop will:

  • Sharpen your decision-making skills
  • Improve and enhance your relationships with others
  • Aid in developing effective and persuasive communications
  • Enhance your interviewing techniques
  • Provide experiences in handling job-related problems
  • Hone your communication skills to handle conflict situations

Course Duration: 24 online learning hours in 8 afternoon classes 

Dates:   Feb 12-15, 2024
             and Feb 20 - 23, 2024

Times:  First week: Mon - Thurs 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
             Second week: Tues - Fri, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Fee:      $625

Part 2 - Team Building Skills  •  XWRK 0492

This workshop will:

  • Provide practical techniques to motivate others
  • Determine your preferred leadership style, give you practice using it, and help develop increased flexibility
  • Promote useful techniques for leading and participating in meetings
  • Provide group situations for focusing on leadership motivations and team building
  • Sharpen your skills to cope with power shifts in organizations

Course Duration: 24 online learning hours in 8 afternoon classes

Dates:   March 4-7, 2024
             and March 11-14, 2024

Times:  Mon - Thurs, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.  (for 2 weeks)

Fee:     $625

Part 3 - Administrative Skills  •  XWRK 0494

This workshop will:

  • Provide practical techniques to manage your job and delegate effectively
  • Outline a comprehensive and flexible system of performance analysis and appraisal
  • Identify your time-wasters and give you ideas on how to eliminate them
  • Provide experiences in instruction and performance appraisal interviewing
  • Give you tips to manage change

Course Duration: 24 online learning hours in 8 afternoon classes

Dates:  March 25-28, 2024
            and April 2-5, 2024

Times:  First week: Mon - Thurs 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
             Second week: Tues - Fri, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Fee:      $625

 Meeting Procedures and Minute Taking  •  XWRK 0420

This two-part course will be delivered as a live, instructor-led session online.

Meetings are an important part of a group decision-making process, with minute taking as a record of the group’s decisions and action items.  It is vital to any business that they are clear, concise, and accurate. This seminar helps participants to understand their responsibilities as Minute Takers, to work effectively, and to produce agendas and minutes in a variety of styles – formal, informal, and action.

Participants will participate in a mock meeting to gain a practical understanding of their roles and to practice taking accurate notes and producing correct minutes.

Course Duration: 15 online learning hours in 6 evening classes

Dates:  To be announced

Times: Tues - Thurs, 6 p.m. - 8:30  p.m. (for 2 weeks)

Fee:     $349

 Proposal Writing  •  XWRK 0940

Non-profits are increasingly being required to do more with less, and competition over limited resources can be challenging. Discovering new funding sources and writing strong proposals to secure those funds are vital in creating the diversified revenue bases organizations need to grow and thrive.

TRU is hosting a two-day proposal writing course that will give you a variety of skills and resources to assist in identifying potential funders and creating compelling proposals. This course is Live stream format.

  • Different types of proposals
  • Funding sources and prospect research
  • Request for proposals
  • Preparing to write
  • Writing style and grammar
  • Major components of a proposal
  • Executive summary
  • Problem statement
  • Mission/goals/objectives
  • Technical section
  • Project team/relevant experience
  • Project budget
  • Evaluation Plan
  • Appendices – what to include and what not to include
  • Proposal writing tips
  • Staying organized

Dates: To be announced

Times: To be announced

Fee: $295

Stepping up to Supervision  •  XMSK 0930

Stepping Up to Supervision helps bridge the gap between working as a frontline employee and stepping up to lead the team. There is a gap in knowledge and experience that prevents many employees from moving to the next step in their career. This course addresses that gap and provides the knowledge and skills necessary to lead a team effectively and competently. A recent study showed that 58% of managers said they did not receive any management training. Stepping Up to Supervision introduces and explains key concepts and skills that enable a qualified employee to effectively move up to a position as a front-line supervisor. It discusses the mindset and skills necessary to make the move from employee to supervisor, improve engagement of employees, and develop strategies for continuing improvement.

Course Duration: 15 online learning hours in 5 afternoon classes

Dates:  Feb 5-9, 2024

Times: Mon - Fri, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Fee:  $450

SuperHost™ Foundations of Service Quality (Customer Service Training)

No matter what sector your business is in, customer service matters.  A bad customer encounter will end up on social media and hurt your bottom line – likewise, people will
remember a positive experience, bringing them back as customers and boosting your brand through word of mouth and high ratings. 

This course is a practical introduction to basic customer service skills, including:

  • Communication etiquette and best practices
  • Business case and return on investment (ROI)
  • Teamwork, service recovery, and problem-solving
These skills continue to be among the top skills required in most workplaces.

Ways SuperHost can help your business:
  • Ensure customer satisfaction and create brand loyalty
  • Increase employees’ confidence and skills
  • Support your staff’s professional development
  • Create a happier, more harmonious workplace
  • Increase net promoter score and boost your bottom line
This course uses fun, interactive activities for students to practice scenarios and gain ideas and skills that they can apply to their job right away.

Course Duration: 7 hours

Contact us at 250-392-8010 or wlcontinuingstudies@tru.ca if you would like to schedule this course for your organization.



SuperHost™ is a registered trademark of go2 Tourism HR Society.  Used under license.

The following professional development classes are now delivered in an interactive live-stream format:

We offer top-of-the-line training for business and leadership development which combines a convenient and flexible learning format, experienced and caring instructors, and a curriculum designed for those wanting to advance in the workplace.  If you require access to a computer, please contact us to make arrangements.

Similar to the in-class workshops, LIVE STREAM workshops are delivered using a virtual platform where the instructor is online and leads the class providing the same coverage that students would have received attending in person. The instructor provides lectures, gives students exercises to reinforce the learning, answers questions, elaborates on topics covered, and facilitates class discussions/ breakout sessions. Students receive all course materials before classes start and are able to follow along the course delivery with their materials. Students should register at least 5 days before class starts to receive course materials.

Many students really like this format. It allows participants to take the training from the comfort of their homes, office, and many other locations. It eliminates the need for travel and allows them to make better use of their availability. 

Contact Community Education and Workforce Development at 250-392-8010 or email wlcontinuingstudies@tru.ca to have your name placed on an interest list for upcoming course information.