Latest news with #professional development
CTV News
19-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Workshop focuses on artistic expressions in research dissemination
Oghenevwede Oturuhoyi, a summer intern with the Black Equity in Alberta Rainforest project, is seen at a workshop on July 19, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Galen McDougall) African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) artists gathered at the University of Alberta Saturday morning for a professional development seminar hosted by the Ribbon Rouge Foundation and the Black Equity in Alberta Rainforest (BEAR) research project. Several speakers presented at the workshop, sharing their works and how the research influenced what they do. Oghenevwede Oturuhoyi, a summer intern with BEAR, said the workshop is important to the research project which looks at the root causes of ACB related health inequity. 'We're talking about knowledge translation – how do we translate our knowledge or data to reach the grassroots, to get to ACB communities, people who cannot access written information?' Oturuhoyi told CTV News Edmonton. 'We're really interested in how this knowledge can be transmitted and assessed.' Oturuhoyi said the workshop will give BEAR the opportunity to learn how to break down knowledge and disseminate the information through various artistic mediums. The first segment of the workshop involved presentations about BEAR's objectives and how they fit into those of Ribbon Rouge. The Ribbon Rouge Foundation is a grassroots organization focused on health equity and facilitates social justice through the arts. The second phase of the workshop took a more interactive approach with informal discussions about the subject matter. 'Today is all about learning, equipping and developing ourselves,' said Oturuhoyi. BEAR and the Ribbon Rouge Foundation are planning to hold a symposium in August, where they are looking to commission artists to translate some of the BEAR's findings into artistic expressions.
Entrepreneur
12-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
MeitY and BITS Pilani Launch Cybersecurity Training Programme for Professionals
The training is designed to address the increasing need for cybersecurity capabilities in the face of rising digital threats You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), through its cyber response arm CERT-In, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BITS Pilani to roll out a professional development programme in cybersecurity. The initiative is aimed at upskilling professionals across government departments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and the private sector. The eight-week programme is scheduled to begin on July 19, 2025, and will be conducted by BITS Pilani through its Centre for Research Excellence in National Security (CRENS) at the Hyderabad campus. Rapifuzz, a technology partner, will assist in delivering the course, while CERT-In will provide oversight and subject-matter guidance. The training is designed to address the increasing need for cybersecurity capabilities in the face of rising digital threats. It is open to professionals from diverse backgrounds, including those without prior technical or coding experience. According to CERT-In, the course content has been structured to reflect current and emerging cybersecurity challenges. The curriculum will cover areas such as cyber threats and vulnerabilities, network security, cryptography, incident management, and security practices in cloud and mobile environments. Participants who complete the programme will receive a joint certification from CERT-In and BITS Pilani. CERT-In Director General Sanjay Bahl noted that strengthening human resource capabilities is a critical component of India's broader digital security strategy. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice-Chancellor of BITS Pilani, highlighted the relevance of academic and industry collaboration in addressing national cybersecurity needs. This marks one of the first formalised efforts by CERT-In to partner with an academic institution to provide structured cybersecurity education on a large scale.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Trust insists shorter day has minimal impact
A school trust that is testing having a shorter school day on Fridays believes pupils will have more time with teachers in the classroom. Following consultations, teachers at Reedham Primary and Winterton Primary in Norfolk will use a Friday afternoon for planning and professional development time. If successful, it could be rolled out in all Consortium Trust schools, including a further nine in Suffolk, by September 2027. Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne, the trust's chief executive, said: "The intention of this programme is to make sure children have teachers in front of them for more time than they already do now." Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the schools already have an earlier start to the day and a shorter lunch break. "Because we have extended the school day after the Covid pandemic to 08:30 BST starts and we have maintained that all the way through, so the reduction actually is quite minimal," said Mr Aalders-Dunthorne. While the national guidance is 32.5 hours of teaching a week, the chief exec said the trust was closer to 34 hours at the moment, which meant teachers could finish in the classroom at 12:15 each Friday when the trial starts. He said: "The key reason is to use the finite resources of the trust more effectively, which is largely around staffing and finance to ensure that we are using what we do have effectively. "One of the challenges for small rural primary schools is the ability to release teachers to keep up to date with their training... all teachers are entitled to a 10% reduction in their timetable to allow them to participate in planning and preparation - we have found this very disruptive in small primary schools." On a Friday afternoon, a childcare provision put in place would be focused around the curriculum for working parents until 15:15 which the chief exec hoped would minimise the impact on working families. "The division is pretty equally split. Some parents have come to us and they are really pleased... they welcome the opportunity to start their weekend early," he said. "We have other parents quite rightly expressing issues around potentially lost learning time and the impact on working families." The trust said it had sent letters and run consultations with parents ahead of introducing the trial In November. Mr Aalders-Dunthorne said if it had no positive impact on pupil outcomes, behaviours and attendance, it would not be carried forward. He said: "We are absolutely passionate of making sure that primary schools in rural communities are seen as community assets and we will do everything within our power to protect them and this trial is one of those pieces of innovation which we think could support those schools moving forward." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Shorter school day planned for Fridays Consortium Trust
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Schools say shorter day in Norfolk will have 'minimal' impact
A school trust that is testing having a shorter school day on Fridays believes pupils will have more time with teachers in the classroom. Following consultations, teachers at Reedham Primary and Winterton Primary in Norfolk will use a Friday afternoon for planning and professional development time. If successful, it could be rolled out in all Consortium Trust schools, including a further nine in Suffolk, by September Aalders-Dunthorne, the trust's chief executive, said: "The intention of this programme is to make sure children have teachers in front of them for more time than they already do now." Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the schools already have an earlier start to the day and a shorter lunch break. "Because we have extended the school day after the Covid pandemic to 08:30 BST starts and we have maintained that all the way through, so the reduction actually is quite minimal," said Mr the national guidance is 32.5 hours of teaching a week, the chief exec said the trust was closer to 34 hours at the moment, which meant teachers could finish in the classroom at 12:15 each Friday when the trial starts. He said: "The key reason is to use the finite resources of the trust more effectively, which is largely around staffing and finance to ensure that we are using what we do have effectively."One of the challenges for small rural primary schools is the ability to release teachers to keep up to date with their training... all teachers are entitled to a 10% reduction in their timetable to allow them to participate in planning and preparation - we have found this very disruptive in small primary schools." On a Friday afternoon, a childcare provision put in place would be focused around the curriculum for working parents until 15:15 which the chief exec hoped would minimise the impact on working families. "The division is pretty equally split. Some parents have come to us and they are really pleased... they welcome the opportunity to start their weekend early," he said. "We have other parents quite rightly expressing issues around potentially lost learning time and the impact on working families." The trust said it had sent letters and run consultations with parents ahead of introducing the trial In November. Mr Aalders-Dunthorne said if it had no positive impact on pupil outcomes, behaviours and attendance, it would not be carried forward. He said: "We are absolutely passionate of making sure that primary schools in rural communities are seen as community assets and we will do everything within our power to protect them and this trial is one of those pieces of innovation which we think could support those schools moving forward." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Fast Company
10-07-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
The next generation of business leaders must be adaptable
When my marketing role evolved to include customer success and renewals, some naturally expressed confusion on why a CMO with established expertise and an already large remit would willingly take on more. This confusion was not among colleagues (I'm fortunate enough to be part of a very supportive environment!) but among others inside and outside of my network. Looking back, that decision reinforced something I believe is a career accelerator and crucial in leadership. It's a lesson I've shared with many young professionals and I believe others should take it to heart. Adaptability defines who will lead tomorrow's companies and who won't. Here's how to think about becoming more adaptable. Break artificial barriers Sometimes we box ourselves in with professional or personal labels. 'I'm a marketer' or 'I'm an engineer' or 'I'm a mother' becomes both identity and limitation. These labels feel safe in a chaotic world. They create boundaries, but they can also limit growth. I've seen smart, capable young professionals turn down opportunities with a quick 'that's not in my job description.' They build walls around their roles, thinking they're creating safety without fully appreciating the downstream impact to their career growth. My shift from marketing into customer success happened deliberately. I wanted to understand the full customer journey firsthand. And now, every time I push beyond my comfort zone, I gain insights that change how I approach all aspects of our business. Look at the full picture Working across both marketing and customer success showed me connections I'd have missed otherwise. When you handle both sides of the customer relationship, patterns start to appear. You notice how your early marketing messages set expectations that affect renewal conversations months later. You spot the gaps between what attracts customers initially and what keeps them around. This full-picture view prepares you for executive roles in ways specialization can't. Senior leaders need to synthesize information from across departments—tough to do when you've only seen one slice of the business. Ride the wave of change Young professionals today face relentless workplace transformation. Technologies reshape entire industries overnight. Business models evolve constantly. People who excel amid this chaos don't resist change—they embrace it. When unfamiliar challenges crop up, they lean in rather than back away. This is something I strive to instill in my team and my children. When we are not afraid to take on unfamiliar challenges and we don't accept perceived limitations, we create permission for others to do the same. I've witnessed this ripple effect repeatedly. One person's willingness to push boundaries inspires colleagues, friends and family to reconsider their own self-imposed constraints and embrace a growth mindset. How to build your adaptability muscles Getting comfortable with change takes practice: Jumping into cross-functional projects exposes you to different departments Consider sideways moves before focusing solely on climbing up Ask questions about parts of the business you don't touch daily Find mentors with backgrounds different from yours Tackle unfamiliar tasks with curiosity instead of anxiety If someone requests your help with a task that falls outside of your area of expertise, view it as a chance to develop and expand your skills. Find new routes Adaptability opens doors that might otherwise stay shut. Reaching senior leadership often means finding alternate routes when traditional paths prove blocked. The biggest barriers to professional growth often aren't external obstacles or lack of opportunity, they're the invisible ceilings we build for ourselves. Connect the organization People who move between different functions bring unique value—they bridge communication gaps. They translate between specialized teams that struggle to understand each other. They spot problems and opportunities others miss. Companies facing complexity need leaders who make connections. When you demonstrate this skill, you stand out dramatically from peers who excel only in their specialty. Get comfortable with discomfort Becoming adaptable means feeling uncomfortable regularly. Stepping into new territory triggers self-doubt, but over time builds your confidence to trust your judgment. But, here's a poorly-kept secret: This discomfort never completely goes away, even for experienced executives. What changes is how you respond to it. You start seeing discomfort as a sign of growth rather than failure. Young professionals aiming for leadership positions gain an edge with this mindset shift. While others avoid challenging situations, you'll build versatility that makes you increasingly valuable. I project—with confidence—that we'll see leaders of tomorrow who continuously reinvent themselves, crossing boundaries, embracing challenges outside their comfort zone, and bringing diverse perspectives together. The real question: When unexpected opportunities appear, will you take them? I definitely think you should.
