[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Taylor_O’Reilly.jpg” caption=”Tracey Taylor-O’Reilly, director of the Centre for Continuing Education. Photo by Susan Bubak. Below, Christie McGaghran (centre) receives an award from Jaci Clements while Ken Radway of Ryerson University looks on. Photo courtesy of Christie McGaghran.”]The Centre for Continuing Education received national recognition earlier this month for one of its programs. The Addiction Education Program has won the 2007/08 National Award for Continuing Education Program Excellence granted by the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE).

Programs were judged on their service/value to students, community and institution, the program complexity, ingenuity and innovation in delivery.

“We are so pleased that this program has been recognized as one of the best in the country,” says Christie McGaghran, program manager.

The Addiction Education Program has been offered through the Centre for Continuing Education, in some form or another, for more than 20 years. Students can take the program in distance format across Canada and in lecture format at the Downtown Centre.

There are currently more than 300 active students in the program which attracts a wide range of students from the fields of social work, health care, human services, mental health and law enforcement.

“Students take the program prior to a degree, concurrently, or post-degree, so the student base is very broad,” says McGaghran.

Students appreciate the flexibility of the program and that it allows them to gain the career specific skills that many employers are looking for in new university graduates.

“The Addiction Careworker Diploma Program offered at McMaster more than exceeded my expectations,” says Carolyn Plater, a 2007 graduate of the program. “The large variety of elective courses will appeal to virtually anyone's area of interest or specialization. The format allows you to work at your own pace, which is fantastic. I was able to maintain full-time employment while also furthering my career.”

The program offers both a certificate and a diploma option, and is part of an array of professional education programs in Health and Social Services, Business and Applied Sciences offered by the Centre to individuals to enhance their careers.

In addition to these Certificate and Diploma programs, the Centre offers a variety of corporate training programs for organizations, including McMaster, covering computer training, professional development, managerial and leadership development.

“This award is in line with our vision for the Centre of achieving national distinction for high quality, flexible and innovative professional education programs,” says Tracey Taylor-O'Reilly, director of the Centre for Continuing Education.

For more information about the Certificate or Diploma program, please visit www.mcmastercce.com/addiction.