In Part I of this two-part series on transversal competencies, Avery Rueb and Dayna Morrow share with us about the work the Vanier’s Student Success Working Group (SSWG) did to support the development of these durable skills. They define what transversal competencies are, and explain why it is important to help our students attain them, not just to prepare them for the job market and university, but to help them become better college students and good citizens. They share the research done by the SSWG on transversal competencies and discuss how we can weave them into our CEGEP programs.

Part II is also available as of the publishing of this episode.

****Note: we had some technical issues during the recording or Part 1 and 2. The sound quality during parts of both interviews is not ideal. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please know that the issue has since been resolved, so future episodes will have good, consistent sound quality.****

Our Guests

Avery Rueb is the Dean of Academic Development andResearch at Vanier College, where he has been leading since 2024 after 12 yearsof teaching French. He launched the Skills4Life program at Vanierin Multimedia and Electrical Engineering Technology, as well as at Edu2 schoolin Montreal, to help students strengthen essential transversal competenciessuch as collaboration, time management, and networking. These initiatives,supported through agencies like Entente Canada-Québec and NovaScience,are designed to give students the durable skills they need to succeedacademically, personally, and professionally.

Dayna Morrow is the Department Coordinator for Special EducationTechniques (SET) and has been teaching at Vanier for 17 years. She’s worked as theSET internship coordinator and spent two years as a member of the VanierStudent Success Working Group while also volunteering on several collegecommittees. Prior to, and throughout her time at Vanier, Dayna worked in healthand social services in private, public and nonprofit organizations with olderadults, families and youth. Dayna has degrees in Applied Human Sciences(Therapeutic Recreation) from Concordia University, and Education CounsellingPsychology (Family Life Education) from McGill University. She is also agraduate from Special Education Techniques (formerly SCC) being a proud Vanieralumnus. Outside of Vanier, Dayna enjoys time spent withfamily, volunteering at the Board of a local community organization, takinglong walks & paddleboarding at her cottage in the great outdoors.