Learning Formats

“I’ve had the opportunity to participate in three Queen’s IRC’s virtual programs and the course material presented virtually is the same as the material presented for the in-person programs thanks to the effective use of technology. Whether it’s moving groups into breakout rooms or sending material electronically to participants, the program coordinators and facilitators work together to present the program in a seamless manner. While the in-person programs are first-class, and I will continue to participate in them whenever I can, I consider the virtual programs from Queen’s IRC every bit as valuable and would recommend them to anyone considering an online training course.”

“Queen’s IRC programs are great because they offer in-depth knowledge of real-world labour relations issues and best practices. Whether from the management, HR, or union perspective, the variety of participants from across Canada and across industries all share common experiences, resulting in lively, relevant exchanges. The facilitators and speakers are excellent and well-versed in actual case studies. The learning experience is enriched by interactive role-playing sessions that are interesting and relevant.”

“Thank you for helping me to organize the IRC custom Managing Unionized Environments training for my staff. I work with a large number of unionized staff and, just like many institutions, am dealing with a combination of COVID induced stress and union tensions. This year, in-person training was not possible, so we took advantage of the IRC online training. Cathy worked with us to tailor the training to our group and the information matched our needs. We had two presenters: Gary and Allen. Gary is a facilitator at Queen’s with incredible knowledge of labour relations. He is an amazingly articulate speaker with a practical approach and clear answers. Al spent many, many years as a union representative at GM, and he has a lot of practical knowledge. His advice, from the union’s point of view, was greatly appreciated, and his stories made the mornings interesting. We were worried about the online format, but it worked well. Sessions were well organized, course materials were distributed beforehand, video connections were good, people connected, and breakouts to small rooms were focused and efficient. Overall, we all (managers, supervisors, and directors) learned something, regardless of how many years we have been managing staff. We already started reviewing our “take-aways” and “lessons learned” to create a plan to better manage our staff and to improve our relationship with the union.”

“As a busy executive, Queens IRC programs provide concepts and frameworks that promote easy transfer of knowledge back into the workplace. The program team takes great care to ensure service excellence through an all-round balanced learning experience that meets higher learning expectations in a safe and supportive environment. I have been taking courses at Queens IRC for the last 5 or so years and no other institution rivals the learning experience Queens IRC provides!”