Asif Rashid
Certificate in Professional Management
In his early 20s, Asif Rashid graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Sociology with a concentration in criminology. His degree was the foundation of a career, leading him to the Solicitor General's Office where he worked in youth probation, and later to the Calgary Police Service where he is now a staff sergeant working in administration. He has been with the Police Service for more than a decade.
In 2013, Asif graduated from the U of C for a second time, this time with a Continuing Education Certificate in Professional Management, a program that he pursued at a comfortable pace over five years.
With a solid education behind him, why did Asif return to school?
"I didn't want to get stale," he says. "I believe in keeping my mind active. I could see the workplace changing, so I wanted to be sure I stayed up-to-date.
"Also, I wanted to network with people from other fields and industries, and hear their perspectives. I don't think people should work in silos. So much of what any of us deal with from day-to-day has a common thread, so I believe we can learn a great deal from one another.
"And of course, higher education and merit reap rewards in the workplace. I felt this program would make me more marketable, and that I would see benefits in the future." Asif chose to take one course at a time and fit in an occasional break. His approach made it easy to maintain a balance at home with his wife and young daughter.
Because he prefers structure and set times for classes, he took all of his courses in the classroom. Whenever possible, he chose the main campus, mostly because it was reminiscent of his undergraduate experience at the U of C.
"This program gave me exactly what I was looking for," he says. "But, completing it doesn't mean I'm done. I'm really just beginning. I'll be back for more ... possibly the Project Management Fundamentals Certificate."
For Asif, the Professional Management program had many virtues.
"I liked that the instructors were professionals practising in their areas of expertise and that they were able to bring relevant experiences and examples into the classroom," he says. "As a result, we always had excellent classroom discussions.
"I liked the intimate learning environment in Continuing Education as opposed to the large classes I had experienced as an undergrad.
"And, I appreciated the social aspect. I would often come across others from the Calgary Police Service in my classes which was great, and I was also able to build a huge, informal social network with the other classmates and instructors I met."