_{Graduate scholars collaborating in group discussions.}

Another resource that can aid grad students in professionalize their degree is the Individualized Development Plan (IDP). The convenient framework is part of a cyclical process that motivates students to assess their current level of expertise, identify future goals and map out a plan of action for achieving them. The IDP can initiate ongoing conversations with supervisors, graduate program directors and peers that will help build networks and long-term connections. We also have a dedicated IDP for postdoctoral researchers.

Additionally, Beyond the Professoriate's Career Training Platform is the go-to eLearning platform for graduate community members who are exploring careers outside of academia. With on-demand, self-paced learning modules, Aurora allows PhDs and Postdocs to determine how to effectively apply the skills acquired through their education and become competitive on the job market. The platform’s curated content consists of modules, which are easily accessible at any time and in any order. All of the contributors who deliver workshops and participate in career panels and interviews have successfully completed their PhD and are experts in the fields of Arts, Social Sciences, STEM, Business and Education.

is another resource available not only to students but also to recent grads. With tools catered specifically to any student’s unique situation, the CED is able to provide a custom way to build professional skills. Materials for international students, new grads, Indigenous students and many other personalized resources are available.

Career educators are just a click away with virtual . Additionally, the is accessible on a drop-in basis. Career Peer educators provide guidance in a variety of ways from exploring what students and grads can do with their degree to creating a strong LinkedIn profile. A team of professionals work with students to develop the right career self-management skills. Moreover, the Career Centre provides webinars and hosts events to help York community members explore a diverse set of careers and seek out jobs. A list of all the happening virtually and on campus are conveniently accessible through the calendar feature. Additionally, the Centre provides opportunities to connect with alumni and employers directly, creating convenient networking possibilities.

For more information on Professionalizing Your Degree visit the FGS webpage.

_{Hannah Maitland and Stephanie Jonsson}

The funded project, called “Combating Digital Exclusion: Mobilizing Educational Resources to Remove Digital Access Barriers,” allows ODLAN to focus attention on curating resources specifically for older adults and continue to form partnerships with digital literacy organizations to help them become more queer-inclusive.

“Since its formation in 2021, ODLAN has provided a collaborative space for York students to contribute to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,” said Maitland. “As we shift to a new normal post-pandemic, it is still essential to remove digital literacy and access barriers for anyone who is experiencing these challenges.”

2SLGBTQIA+ older adults face several challenges when accessing remote service provisions, says Maitland, such as financial limitations, a lack of digital literacy and a lack of support to learn new devices. ODLAN, Maitland says, works to prioritize highlighting affordable and accessible resources for communities with the least secure access to devices and internet access, such as Indigenous community members, people with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada.

Through this grant, ODLAN has hosted webinars and created original guides and infographics to educate the public about the importance of queer-inclusive digital literacy and remote services.

Research is currently underway to expand ODLAN’s resource database and the team will host relevant resources and educational materials on a newly formatted version of the ODLAN website. During the 2022 Winter term, students from Professor Melanie Beljko’s graduate course, EECS6330 “Critical Technical Practice: Computer Accessibility and Assistive Technology,” volunteered to program and help host a resource database that would be easily accessible and searchable by the public. Because the site hosts resources that have already been confirmed to be up-to-date and queer-friendly, users will be able to operate the site like a search engine and enter terms to find quality and affordable digital literacy resources more easily than a general Google search. Work will continue through the summer and ODLAN will launch the new resource database website in late August.

“Nobody should be excluded from accessing digital programs and resources. Digital literacy and access needs to be recognized as a basic human right,” says Jonsson.

More information about ODLAN can be found at .

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