At UBC, professional development for graduate students is a key priority to ensure the success of our graduates. It is a shared responsibility of a number of offices and academic units. Visit our site for a multi-unit calendar of events and lists of services and resources.
Alumni UBC
The Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre is the home for UBC alumni for life and the UBC alumni community is now 350,000 strong, living in more than 140 countries. alumni UBC offers an array of programs and services, both in person and online, to benefit alumni – and current students – in the life of UBC. From career resources, stimulating intellectual programming, networking opportunities, to the award-winning University of British Columbia Magazine, alumni UBC keeps you current and connected.
UBC Career Centre
The Career Centre helps make connections, spark insights and expand perspectives. They empower graduate students and recent graduates to explore possibilities and make the most of their resources and options.
Their services include:
- One-on-one appointments
- Workshops
- Networking events and career fair
- Work Learn
- CareersOnline Job board
The Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) ) provides teaching consultations, workshops and programs for graduate student, TAs and post-docs, including Instructional Skills Workshops (ISWs), TA training program development support, as well as a certificate program for those wishing to pursue a career in teaching and learning in higher education.
The Graduate Pathways to Success program in Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies offers a palette of non-credit workshops, seminars and other activities designed to develop some of the skills and competencies needed to thrive as professionals and to make meaningful contributions to society.
Innovation UBC works with UBC’s researchers to support and accelerate the translation of their research into real world impacts. Through research partnerships, technology transfer, and venture building services, UBC students, staff and faculty have access to a robust ecosystem of services to strengthen their translation opportunities.
The following supports are available to you through Innovation UBC:
Mitacs Training and Internships
Mitacs offers a wide range of opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows:
- Accelerate (Including Accelerate Entrepreneur and Accelerate Fellowship) supports research internships that connect students and postdocs with industry and not-for-profit partners to collaborate on real-world challenges.
- Business Strategy Internships (BSI) are short-term projects that allow students and postdocs to help organizations innovate and adapt through strategic initiatives.
- Globalink (GRI) offers travel funding for international research collaborations between Canada and partner countries.
- Globalink Research Award (GRA): Provides funding for graduate students to conduct 12–24-week research projects abroad at partner institutions.
- Mitacs Training provides free, professional development courses designed to build skills across five key areas:
- Professional & career fundamentals
- Interpersonal skills
- Communication
- Leadership & management
- Intrapreneurship
Mitacs Training courses are delivered in two parts: a self-paced online component and a live, instructor-led workshop facilitated by experts from academia and industry. Students do not need to participate in other Mitacs programs to register, and all sessions are offered at no charge to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows currently enrolled at a Canadian university.
To explore available courses and learn more, please visit the Mitacs Training webpage Professional Skills Development and Training – Mitacs or connect with a Mitacs representative Find a Mitacs Advisor – Mitacs.