Extended Education

Gathering showcases continuing education

Partners, instructors, students, alumni and colleagues joined Extended Education to connect and celebrate shared success.

Jeri Smith and Michelle Kaschl- MLL Partnership Excellence Award
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries’ Jeri Smith, Training Specialist and Michelle Kaschl, Organizational Development Consultant receive the Partnership Excellence Award from Extended Education’s Program Administrator, Brendan Roney and Dean, Ute Kothe.
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries’ Jeri Smith, Training Specialist and Michelle Kaschl, Organizational Development Consultant receive the Partnership Excellence Award from Extended Education’s Program Administrator, Brendan Roney and Dean, Ute Kothe.
Estimated Read Time:
3 minutes

Once again, UM Extended Education’s Empowering Excellence event provided a special opportunity to showcase continuing education at the University of Manitoba. 

On April 15 in Marshall McLuhan Hall, University Centre, Dean’s Honour List students were cheered for their accomplishments. Instructors and partners were recognized with awards. 

“We empower learners with lifelong learning."

Ute Kothe

Ute Kothe, Dean, Extended Education, applauds our community
Ute Kothe, Dean, Extended Education, applauds our community.

Ute Kothe, Dean, UM Extended Education, spoke to the heart of the event and the work of Extended Education. “Empowering is a very popular term these days, and in Extended Education, we like to say that we want to empower learners as well as instructors and colleagues,” Kothe said.


“We empower learners with lifelong learning. We foster the ability to continuously learn new knowledge and new skills. Our learners become resilient by being able to adapt as they experience that it is never too late to learn something new. Lifelong learning is the cornerstone to creating a strong society.” 

 

Empowering Excellence is a celebration, she says.

 

“We celebrate our learners who have chosen to challenge themselves and who have committed to lifelong learning. We celebrate our instructors, who are important to support learners. We also celebrate our partners. Extended Education is proud to work closely together with major organizations in Manitoba.”

Matthew Wiebe, Instructor Excellence Award

Over the past five years or so, Matthew Wiebe has taught Extended Education students about Canadian Business, finance, financial management, accounting, and business writing. The CPA who works for the Government of Manitoba and holds a UM Bachelor of Commerce degree is one of two Extended Education instructors to receive this year’s Instructor Excellence Award.

“My day job is doing the work of accounting. But I really enjoy teaching. It’s nice to be recognized,” says Wiebe. “I enjoy getting to know my students and having good conversations. I learn a lot as well.”

Matthew Wiebe with Marcia McKenzie and Ute Kothe
Matthew Wiebe receives Instructor Excellence Award from Marcia McKenzie, Senior Instructor and Ute Kothe, Dean.

Wiebe started his career at the provincial government facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion training. “I enjoyed offering internal training. Then this opportunity came along to do more formal training. I am so glad I did it. I enjoy it even more than I expected.”

In the classroom, he says, “I talk about the course material. I encourage students to share their experiences and real-life examples. These conversations enhance the subject matter, adding value from the student experience. We all learn together.”

When Wiebe teaches finance courses for Extended Education, he says, “Some are very excited about finance. For others, it is not their favourite topic. I try to present so everyone can benefit and take something that is useful for them away with them.”

Teaching these courses in person is also a benefit, he says. “I can see how people are feeling, read body language and faces. If eyes are glazing over or people are drifting off, I know I have to liven it up or present it in a different way.”

From young learners who are just getting started to more seasoned professionals, he says, “Everyone has something to offer. I encourage participation. You don’t have to be an accountant but we all have to deal with money at some point.”

Wiebe looks forward to attending Empowering Excellence.

“It’s great that UM Extended Education is doing this. It’s important to build community and networking. The staff and other instructors have been very helpful. I really admire some instructors and look up to them. I appreciate their support. The teamwork atmosphere is very positive.”

“My day job is doing the work of accounting. But I really enjoy teaching. It’s nice to be recognized."

Matthew Wiebe

Kris Lobay with Paula Kristjanson Hasiuk and Mark Kristjanson
Kris Lobay receives the Ronald Kristjanson Award from Paula Kristjanson Hasiuk and Mark Kristjanson

Additional Extended Education award recipients

Instructor Excellence Award
Dorota Madziar

Instructor Service Awards (10 plus years)
Larry Davidson, Melanie Brydges Down

Instructor Service Awards (5 to 9 years)
Angela Faulkner, Jill Knaggs, Louise Rowlands, Vince O'Donohue, Abraham King, Christina Albi, Clifford Allotey, Francis Fang, Diane Jansen, Richard Lannon, Tammy Brown

Ronald Kristjanson Award
Lindsy Arsenault, and Kris Lobay

Partnership Excellence Award
Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

Industry Placement Host Award
City of Winnipeg 

Industry Placement Host Award
Opportunities for Employment

Boilerplate: empowering learners

At UM, we encourage life-long curiosity while providing tools – inside and outside the classroom – to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Empowering learners is one of the strategic themes you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.

By

Liz Katynski