Christina Birkby, BA, CHRP

Human Resource Management Certificate (2009)

"I wanted HR and I wanted a university program," says Christina Birkby, a recent graduate of the Human Resources Management Certificate, and currently an account manager with an oil and gas recruiting firm in Calgary.

It was an imminent move to Calgary to join her fiance that prompted Christina to explore a career change. After some initial career counseling, she began researching programs. "I was thrilled to discover U of C's HR program could be taken online. It meant I could get started while I was still in Vancouver.

"The process was seamless. I loved the flexibility of online delivery and the choices I got in my electives. I would absolutely recommend the program."

Some previous experience with online courses at UBC gave Christina the confidence to enrol in online courses to start with, but her intention was to eventually move to classroom courses once she was settled in Calgary.

"It was so nice, I ended up doing almost the whole program online, even after I moved. I was still able to chat with people and felt connected to my classmates. The people were interesting and came from all over... Ontario, BC, even from the Middle East."

Convinced she'll be back in Continuing Education, possibly for a second certificate, Christina believes she got exactly what she wanted when she enrolled. "I knew the hands-on HR experience would come. I was looking for the academic and theoretical side... and I got that."

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