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RRU gave me an opportunity to grow professionally that simply wouldn't have been possible anywhere else.
I chose RRU because the pace of the program allowed me to maintain full-time employment and set my own hours of study. The flexibility of the blended learning model – combining online and two-week residency – meant most of my learning could be self-directed. The programs offer content that was challenging enough to help me grow, but not too academic to disadvantage me as a working professional.
A highlight of my program was the two-week residency spent at City Studio exploring the very practical research topic of revitalizing Centennial Square in downtown Victoria. Working with the Mayor and the Manager of Sustainability and presenting to Victoria City Council provided an unexpected, hands-on way to learn. Instead of producing a standard academic paper, we used all the theories and best practices studied online and then applied them in person.
I expected that the program would attract a compelling mix of diverse students to my cohort. I was not disappointed. There were just as many opportunities to learn from my colleagues as there were from the professor at any given time. I met a few very capable and like-minded colleagues who I am still in contact with today.
Find a way to connect your own passion projects to the research required for your program. You'll find professors and supervisors willing to be flexible, experiment, and draw a little bit outside the lines.