Letter of Proficiency
Critical Skills for Communication in the Technical Sector
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The ability to communicate information accurately, succinctly, and unambiguously is an essential skill required by employers in a breadth of technical industries.
This non-credit UBC micro-credential in technical communication consists of nine modules covering essential skills in technical writing and editing, readability techniques, effective presentations, technical reports, team and client communications, technical memos, proposals, and time-efficient and effective reviewing.
This program provides learners with the opportunity to rapidly acquire and upgrade communication competencies, learn specific techniques using real examples from industry, practice skills, and receive professional editorial feedback on advancing their professional writing.
OFFERED BY:
OUTCOMES
Individuals who earn the Letter of Proficiency in Critical Skills for Communication in the Technical Sector:
- Have been introduced to tools, strategies, techniques and best practices to:
- Improve grammar, writing clarity and consistency
- Engage, and adapt their writing to, their audience
- Write effective e-mails and technical memos
- Efficiently review documents
- Develop effective training materials
- Enhance team and client communications
- Create engaging presentations
- Strengthen proposal writing
- Should be familiar with, and able to apply, these tools, strategies, techniques and best practices when writing and reviewing technical reports, training materials and proposals, and developing and delivering presentations.
- Can use reflection on their own writing knowledge to demonstrate understanding of how this course supports and expands their skills and competencies.
- Professionals with a university degree or college diploma in a science or engineering discipline.
- Individuals seeking professional development (e.g., for a professional association or society).
Delivery Mode:
Online, self-paced and asynchronous, to be completed by April 27, 2025.
Structure:
The Critical Skills for Communication in the Technical Sector micro-credential consists of 48 hours of online, asynchronous learning activities including video lectures, readings, exercises, quizzes, and a capstone project, delivered through the following nine modules:
- Module 1: Technical Reporting
- Module 2: Technical Writing Basics & Styles
- Module 3: Grammar & Clarity in Technical Writing
- Module 4: Reviewing Technical Documents
- Module 5: Team & Client Communications
- Module 6: Technical Training Documents
- Module 7: Engaging Technical Presentations
- Module 8: Winning Technical Proposals
- Module 9: Capstone Project
Modules are sequential and need to be completed in this order. The Capstone Project (Module 9) is only available after successfully completing Modules 1 – 8.
Technology Requirements:
- Access to a computer with a recent operating system and web browser
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset and webcam (recommended)
Deborah Blenkhorn, BA, BEd, MA
Deborah Blenkhorn has been teaching at UBC for well over two decades, helping students improve their writing skills in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Applied Science, the Sauder School of Business, and Continuing Studies/ UBC Extended Learning. She currently teaches undergraduate courses in literature and composition at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and has also lectured at Simon Fraser University (at the Segal Graduate School of Business). Her undergraduate and master’s degrees (BA Honours/BEd and MA) are from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In addition to publishing academic papers and reviews, as well as short fiction, Deborah is a contributor to The Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada and the author of a textbook entitled An Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing Skills for University Students.
Roma Ilnyckyj, MA
Roma Ilnyckyj, MA, is a Certified Professional Editor with extensive experience in all levels of editing. She currently works for CPA Canada, where she edits the coursework and exams that people take to become accountants, and she teaches an introductory editing course at UBC Extended Learning. In the past, Roma has edited material for non-profit organizations, government, small presses, independent authors, and academics. Roma is also actively involved with the Editors’ Association of Canada (Editors Canada), where she’s held a variety of roles at both the national and local level.
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, learners are awarded a UBC Okanagan Letter of Proficiency (a non-credit credential).
The credential is provided in paper format. Learners will also receive a verifiable digital badge (which has descriptive metadata about the learning achievement) for sharing through digital channels.