The Certificate in NGO and Nonprofit Studies at KPU prepares students for voluntary and entry-level work at NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). In Canada, the nonprofit and voluntary sector is the second largest in the world, with over 1 million full-time (FTE) paid employees. The number of NGOs operating worldwide has been expanding exponentially since WWII, and this presently represents a growing labour market.
There is an increasing move towards professionalization in this area, and KPU's targeted introduction to disciplines in both the Faculty of Arts and the Melville School of Business ensures that graduates have covered comparative perspectives on civil society, voluntary action and philanthropy, as well as key aspects of financial management and accountability.
The Certificate in NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) and Nonprofit Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University is unique to this region, and is distinct from other nonprofit management programs in that if offers the following:
- 30-credit program available directly out of high school
- Program structure that bridges the Faculty of Arts and Melville School of Business
- Broad inclusion of local human rights, environmental, and advocacy organizations in Vancouver's Lower Mainland