Tomorrow's innovators know they need more than just a technical education.

Ontario Centres of Excellence's (OCE's) Value Added Personnel Program equips Ontario students with the tools they need to quickly adapt and prepare for successful employment.

What is the Value Added Personnel (VAP) Program?

OCE's Value-Added Personnel Program is a training initiative that helps Ontario science, technology and engineering students develop essential business and entrepreneurship skills to complement their technical expertise.

The program was created in consultation with Ontario industry leaders who identified additional skills and knowledge most desirable in new hires. VAP courses are delivered by corporate leaders and top business school faculty across Ontario and presented as one- and two- day workshops. Eligible students can enroll in a certificate program or take individual courses.

This year, OCE is offering three core and three optional courses. The core courses are Business Development and Entrepreneurship, Strategic and Business Planning, and Networking and Communications. Optional courses are Market Strategy and New Ventures, and Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer. OCE will also recognize equivalent courses offered by similar programs such as MITACS STEP, as part of the VAP certificate program.

To download or print a PDF backgrounder on the Value Added Personnel (VAP) program, click here.

Am I Eligible?

OCE's VAP Program is open to all Ontario graduate students and post-doctoral fellows working on science, technology and/or engineering research projects for their thesis.

VAP Certificate Program

Eligible students may enroll in the VAP certificate program by completing and submitting an application form along with a current CV and letter of support from their academic supervisor. To obtain a VAP Program completion certificate, PhD students are required to complete four core courses and two optional courses (see course list below). Masters students are required to complete four core courses only.

The VAP program is designed to offer entrepreneurship skills to complement other professional skills development programs such as the MITACS STEP. This year, OCE will acknowledge these courses as core and optional credits towards the VAP completion certificate.

To download an application form for the VAP Certificate Program, click here.
To download the VAP Certificate Guidelines, click here.

VAP Individual Courses

Eligible students may also enroll in individual courses. A course certificate will be issued electronically upon completion. See course list below for more information.

VAP Courses

This year, OCE is offering six VAP courses at locations across Ontario. Please review our core and optional course descriptions below.

CORE COURSES
Networking and Communications Interactive workshop to enhance interpersonal and networking skills, allowing students to take full advantage of professional development opportunities.	February 13-14, 2012 Markham Convergence Centre Markham, ON Registration Full March 26-27, 2012 TBD
OPTIONAL COURSES
New Ventures Discover how to assess your own skill-set, analyze business start-up strategies, market ideas, articulate business propositions and pitch business plans.	January 17, 2012 Markham Convergence Centre Showcase Meeting Room 7271 Warden Avenue Markham, ON Registration Full
Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Learn how to declare an invention, protect intellectual property and transfer it successfully.	TBD

Cancellation Terms

Enrolled students must notify OCE of cancellation within seven days of the course start date. Deposit cheques will be cashed in the absence of the seven day cancellation notice. OCE will issue a written confirmation of receipt of notice.

To learn more about OCE's VAP Program, please contact:

Roxy Hamilton
Program Development Manager
Funders and Programs
Ontario Centres of Excellence
Tel: 1 (613) 726 3420 x4223 or 1 (866) 759-6014 x4223
roxy.hamilton@oce-ontario.org