Humber College’s Pathways opportunities let students transfer from their program to another program or continue their education while having their credits recognized so they don’t have to start from scratch.  

Olivia Iwaszkiewicz graduated from Humber’s Police Foundations program a few years ago and is interested in pursuing a career in policing. But she felt she wasn’t ready to start applying for jobs after graduating.

Instead, she decided to return to Humber to enrol in the Bachelor of Social Science – Criminal Justice program. Iwaszkiewicz said Pathways allowed her to continue her education and earn a degree while also giving her more time for personal growth before starting her career.

Due to her previous post-secondary education, Iwaszkiewicz received credit for her prior learning and experience and was able to start later in the program.

Nichole Molinaro, dean, Program Planning, Development and Renewal at Humber, said the recognition of prior learning benefits students by keeping them engaged in their education and excited by it.

The College offers many pathways into Humber programs from other colleges, between Humber programs, and beyond to other post-secondary institutions in the province, country and around the world.

Judy Tavares, manager, Student Mobility and Pathways at Humber, noted that 50 per cent of learners who come to Humber have some post-secondary experience.

“Even students with some university credits see the benefit of a polytechnic education,” said Tavares.

Humber offers more than 150 pathways from Ontario Graduate Certificates to Master’s programs at partner institutions and more than 100 Humber diploma to degree pathway opportunities.

Melinda Kao, program articulation and development consultant at Humber, noted that learning for many people often isn’t linear and that not everyone follows the same route to and through post-secondary education. Pathways recognize prior learning, and Kao said past work and volunteer experience can also be recognized.

The College’s new Academic Plan is launching in April and Gina Antonacci, senior vice-president, Academic at Humber, said it reflects the need to offer students more flexible and personalized learning options through the ongoing evolution of Humber’s credential mix and delivery modes.  

“We have committed to expanding our range of credentials, pathways, and recognition of prior learning processes to support transitions between high school, post-secondary education, and employment,” said Antonacci. “In addition, we’re committed to strengthening partnerships and creating meaningful pathways.”

Humber is boosting its existing pathways program by expanding the College’s credential mix. It’s doing so by building capacity and exploring the possibility of offering Applied Master’s degrees and assessing the potential of three-year bachelor’s degree programs in areas that are beneficial to students and employers.

The College is also developing an apprenticeship strategy that will explore a modular approach to accelerate access to apprenticeships and recognize different levels of achievement, while also developing a vision and plan to establish Humber as a receiving institution through pathways and recognition of prior learning.

As well, the College is creating a central hub to coordinate Humber’s pathways strategy within the Centre for Innovative Learning. It’s also enhancing Humber’s international partnerships to expand pathways and increase credential opportunities for students and is creating a framework for developing micro-credentials that connect into pathways.

Students can learn more about scholarships on the Admissions webpage.