Last winter, Concordia set out to find out what online tools Concordia students use most. Based-off the results, we’ve highlighted the most useful online training tools and applications that you might want to incorporate in your Graduate studies. This summary categorizes the digital tool, apps, platforms and software Concordians find most beneficial for learning into four important areas of Graduate student work: Planning and Communication, Productivity, Learning and Education, and Research. Read more

Whether you’re starting a new relationship with your research supervisor or reinforcing an older one, it is important to learn how to best navigate this dynamic partnership as a graduate student. We’re here to bring you the best practices for establishing a solid foundation with your supervisor, and strategies on how to build off this basis into a strong and stable graduate student-supervisor relationship.   Read more

As we begin our graduate studies, many of us feel an overwhelming sense of pressure. Today, the stakes at the graduate level are higher than ever before and fueled by an expectation to achieve originality. This intense feeling of pressure might stem from the fact that you’ve now entered a competition between a smaller pool of higher qualified candidates. Now ask yourself: how do I get ahead in the competitive world of graduate studies? Knowing the resources you have and what actions you can take to develop stronger graduate-level skills is the first step to answering this question and propelling you to stand out. Read more

Bringing you highlights from the GPTK722 Teaching Assistant Orientation workshop! This annual event, offered by Concordia’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, provides teaching assistants (TAs) from all faculties with the best practices for stepping into the role of TA. Through a series of discussion tables (referred to as Knowledge Café’s) chaired by teaching and learning experts, participants were provided with tips for taking on their new role of TA, interacting with professors and students, translating your TA skills to your CV, and finding TA supports at Concordia. Here’s our summary. Read more

Concordia’s Graduate and Professional Skills Program offers graduate students a unique opportunity to improve a vast array of professional skills in order to remain competitive in today’s job market. Concordia’s GPS program offers free workshops and seminars covering a wide variety of topics - from a beginner’s course in Microsoft Excel to an advanced seminar in teaching – every student can find an area of particular interest. An important feature of the program is that the instructors are qualified professionals in their respective fields, providing students with personal insights into their areas of expertise. GradProSkills offers support to developing graduate students with the skills they need to become highly competitive in the job market and pursuing career growth while in the work force. Read more

As graduate students, we have become accustomed to think before we act, whether it’s choosing between courses or determining how to best approach a professor. We use our judgement to think critically in our everyday lives, without even realizing it. In a recent workshop, Health Promotion Specialist from Concordia’s Health Services, Owen Moran, shared some strategies for thinking critically in everyday tasks, which can lead to less stress and better performance. Read more

For those of you who might have missed it, Concordia’s Student Success Centre held their Discover Concordia Graduate Orientation last week across the downtown SGW campus, and it was a hit! In welcoming new graduates, the Student Success Centre hosted a Graduate student assembly and grad panel of speakers, as well as created a graduate connections area to bring together all Concordia University’s graduate-specific student services. This blog post brings you the must-know updates from the Discover Concordia Graduate Orientation! Read more

This week we sat down with Omar Lucas who is pursuing a Master of Applied Science in Quality Systems Engineering, researching the application of data science to the public transportation sector. Omar has spent a lot of time as a Concordia Graduate involved with GradProSkills, having been a volunteer through our Ambassador Program since Fall 2017. During his time as a GradProSkills Ambassador, Omar set the record of participation by attending a total of 27 workshops across the 8 skills domains that we offer. In this interview, Omar highlights his experience as an Ambassador, explains the benefits of getting involved with GradProSkills, touches on the workshops we offer, and discusses tips for incoming graduate students. Read more

As a graduate student, it's normal to experience a sense of panic when looking for potential funding for your research. It's also normal to be unsure where to turn to for help. We sat down with Dolly Grewal, Graduate Awards Advisor with Concordia’s School of Graduate Studies, who provided us with some insight on the do’s and don’ts for graduate scholarship applications. This blog post will provide sources for funding opportunities, describe the best way to structure your application, provide tips on how to create good rapport with potential references and suggest ways to highlight not only your academic credentials but link them to the passions behind your research. Read more

This week we sat down with Anja Novkovic who is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies. Along with being the GradProSkills ‘Success in Graduate School’ workshop facilitator, Anja is a researcher, a writer, and an artist—with experience in performing spoken word poetry and also incorporating cartography and art into her research. She is also deeply intrigued by storytelling as a practice and as a way to make sense of the spaces that we encounter in our day-to-day lives. Read more