CALGARY, AB – Bow Valley College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ATB Financial to collaboratively develop Agile for Product Owners micro-credentials. 

Agile has become the management tool of choice for software and product development as well as everyday work projects in a corporate environment. It also helps manage work phases and regularly checks progress, team requirements, milestones, delays and required changes to keep a project on track.

Bow Valley College micro-credentials or ‘badges’ represent a specific skill or competency that is verified by Bow Valley College and can be displayed on social media platforms like LinkedIn.  Micro-credentials are growing in popularity with employers, employees, and job seekers alike as a new way to more accurately and more easily match specific job requirements with skill sets.

Bow Valley College micro-credentials can be completed at a pace determined by the learner. Once the learner demonstrates the required competency, the badge is validated and issued online to the learner.

The agreement provides benefits in three ways: It measures what Agile skills and capabilities current ATB team members possess to help determine if they could grow into this new role, which is difficult to fill. Secondly, in terms of determining hiring requirements, it will assist ATB to identify particular skills and certifications that are needed in future candidates according to their business strategy. Thirdly, Bow Valley College will be able to valuate and streamline micro-credentials that nimbly fit the needs and demands of industry and learners.

“We are finding skills and certification gaps in our employees, new graduates and job candidates and we’re having difficulty filling some roles,” states Meriya Dyble, Managing Director, Connected Learning at ATB Financial. “Teaming up with Bow Valley College will help us build a competency profile and determine what we’re working with. Then we can figure out how to better upskill our team. It will also prepare candidates to get their skills in line with what is needed now and in the future.”

Upskilling with globally recognized qualifications and standing out in a competitive ‘gig economy’ are priorities for students and employers, according to Dr. Misheck Mwaba, Vice President, Academic at Bow Valley College.

“Our strategic goal is to provide courses and support that advance learner knowledge at any stage of professional life,” Dr. Mwaba states. “This opportunity with ATB means we are able to add more value at the corporate and learner levels by assessing skills and needs, consult and advise the best learning strategy, then deliver the right blend of customized and globally recognized training. Our micro-credentials are an example of how we are listening and responding to what the business community needs to move ahead.”

The Bow Valley College Agile for Product Owners micro-credentials will include communications, coordination and planning, decision making, innovation and value, leadership, and stakeholder value. For more information on Bow Valley College micro-credentials, visit www.bowvalleycollege.ca or email to study@bowvalleycollege.ca.

ATB has been in partnership with Bow Valley College since 2017 sponsoring financial one-on-one coaching services through Learner Success Services in the South Campus in Calgary.

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For more information, please contact:

Donna Gray
Media Relations Officer
Bow Valley College
Mobile: 403-831-1150
Office: 587-393-2628
Direct: 403-770-5150
Email: dgray@bowvalleycollege.ca

About Bow Valley College
Bow Valley College - Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College - with more than 15,000 full- and part-time students, is a leader in business and health career training, community studies, creative technologies, adult upgrading, and English Language Learning.