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Home » Students » International Students » Academic & Communication Excellence Development (ACED) Certificate

Academic & Communication Excellence Development (ACED) Certificate

We are here to support you during your time at university! Our Academic & Communication Excellence Development (ACED) certificate program is designed to help you develop essential skills to thrive as a student and after graduation. You can also meet with a PASS or SNACK leader for FREE tutoring support in your most difficult courses and achieve academic success!

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two female students receiving ACED certificate

About the Certificate Program

Strengthen your academic communication skills, excel in collaboration and become career ready with the ACED Certificate.

The ACED Certificate Program is designed specifically for students who want to turn classroom anxiety into confidence and feel more comfortable participating, collaborating, and communicating in their courses.

Through interactive workshops and hands-on projects, you will: 

Communicate clearly and confidently in class

Learn how to share your ideas in discussions, contribute to group work and deliver presentations in ways expected in Canadian classrooms.

Strengthen your skills in a low-pressure setting

With hands-on activities similar to your courses, you will feel more prepared and set yourself up for higher grades and a stronger GPA.

Earn an ACED Certificate

Earn an ACED Certificate that shows your commitment to strengthening your academic skills, something you can include in your academic portfolio, resume or LinkedIn profile.

Explore Themes & Projects
Explore the Workshop Schedule
Register Now

Explore your Options

Not sure if you should complete the Certificate program or just do individual workshops? Learn more about the benefits provided by the certificate and workshop-only options below.

Certificate Enrollment Benefits

certificate icon
  • Comprehensive learning with structured workshops .
  • Hands-on projects showcasing your knowledge and application of skills.
  • Recognition of your achievements with a certificate.

Workshop-Only Enrollment Benefits

two people infographic
  • Flexibility to attend workshops that align with specific skills or topic of interest.
  • No long-term commitment.
  • Can enrol into the ACED Certificate program at any time.
Register Now

Who can participate?

These workshops and program is open to international students, however we welcome all students.

Five Steps to Certification

To earn an ACED Certificate you must:

Person on a computer screen

Step 1

Complete the registration form to officially enroll in individual workshops or the certification program.  

Step 2

Attend three workshops (at least 1 from each theme).

Step 3

Complete one project in total (choose a project from any theme).

Step 4

Submit reflective survey after each workshop.

Step 5

Fulfill all requirements with two years of attending your first workshop.

Program Themes & Workshops

Girl sitting in lecture hall holding an assignment and looking happy

Theme 1: Academic Foundations

Build foundational skills and strategies to thrive academically and navigate university life with confidence.

This interactive workshop will help you prepare for success in the Canadian post-secondary classroom. Through hands-on activities, real-life scenarios, and group discussion, you’ll learn how to break down and understand course syllabi, navigate academic expectations, and engage confidently in your classes. You’ll also gain insight into academic integrity, common myths and realities of student life.

Participants will be able to:

  • Analyze course syllabi to identify key expectations, policies, and deadlines
  • Explain academic integrity expectations and distinguish between common myths and realities
  • Prepare and practice strategies for using office hours effectively
  • Demonstrate active note-taking and post-class review techniques to improve retention
  • Identify academic supports and campus resources based on specific needs

This introductory workshop provides students with the foundational skills needed to start building a strong research foundation for your coursework and projects.  Through practical demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to conduct basic information searches, read and interpret scholarly materials, and evaluate sources for credibility.  

Participants will be able to: 

  • Perform basic database searches using appropriate keywords and filters.  
  • Identify key information in academic articles, figures, and tables.    
  • Apply basic criteria to evaluate the reliability of scholarly sources.    

Organize retrieved sources using basic citation management tools or manual methods. 

Here’s a brief snapshot of the projects options you can choose to complete (you only need to choose one project across all themes):  

  • Pick an academic skill and complete a 14-day challenge to build lasting, real-world habits.
  • Take a stand on a debatable topic you care about, support it with research, and present your argument in a bold, single-slide infographic.

Attend workshops in this theme to learn about details and start the project!  

Student raising hand in class

Theme 2: Academic Communication 

Develop clear and effective written and verbal communication for academic and professional success.

'This workshop equips students with the foundational skills to write clearly, ethically, and persuasively in academic settings. Participants will learn to structure essays logically, integrate and cite sources correctly, and navigate the ethical use of generative AI in their writing process. Through practical examples and interactive exercises, you’ll gain confidence in crafting well-organized papers while upholding academic integrity. Ideal for students seeking to strengthen their writing skills in a supportive, judgment-free environment.

Here’s a brief snapshot of the projects options you can choose to complete (you only need to choose one project across all themes): 

  • Reflect on your journey as a communicator by creating a 5-minute podcast that shares the academic or professional skills that helped you grow into a confident, engaging speaker.
  • Craft and reflect on professional emails for real academic scenarios to build confidence, clarity, and etiquette in formal communication.

Attend workshops in this theme to learn about details and start the project!

Group of four students working together

Theme 3: Collaboration & Presentation

Master teamwork and presentation skills to create impactful group projects and deliver engaging content.

This interactive workshop focuses on communication skills and discourse strategies to navigate group work in academic settings. Through scenario-based activities and guided discussions, students will practice expressing ideas clearly, asking for clarification, discussing different perspectives, and communicating expectations and concerns 

Students will also explore language for giving and responding to feedback, disagreeing respectfully, addressing misunderstandings, and negotiating responsibilities with group members. This is a great workshop for students who would like to develop useful language and communicative strategies needed to participate more confidently and constructively in group assignments and projects.

In this interactive workshop, you will learn the art of effective public speaking, especially as it pertains to giving a presentation. Through a masterclass style approach, participants will have the opportunity to practise their presentation skills in role-play situations, with constructive feedback. 

Topics will include: 

  • How to prepare, practise, and deliver your presentation
  • How to make your presentation engaging 
  • How to convey your passion, enthusiasm, and excitement through your presentation delivery 
  • How to leverage/channel your nervous energy 
  • How to present/exude confidence when delivering material 
  • How to clearly communicate to an audience 

Here’s a brief snapshot of the projects options you can choose to complete (you only need to choose one project across all themes): 

  • Deliver a 5-minute TED-style talk that transforms an everyday object into a powerful, thought-provoking story using creativity, research, and presentation skills.
  • Analyze a failed team scenario, uncover what went wrong, and propose strategies for resolving conflict and improving collaboration.

Attend workshops in this theme to learn about details and start the project!

Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule

Theme Event Name Day Event Date Event Time Location Register 
Academic Foundations Succeeding in Your University Classes     Thursday September 173:00-4:30 p.m.McLaughlin Senior Common Room (MC 140)  Register Now 
Academic Foundations Succeeding in Your University Classes     Wednesday September 304:00-5:30 p.m.Zoom Register Now  
Academic Foundations Research Skills: Navigating, Reading and Evaluating Information  Thursday October 1  3:30-5:00 p.m. McLaughlin Senior Common Room (MC 140)  Register Now  
Academic Communication Writing matters: strengthening your academic voice    Wednesday October 28 3:00-4:30 p.m.Zoom Register Now  
Collaboration and Presentation Communicating Effectively in Group Assignments and Projects  Thursday October 293:00-4:30 p.m.Room 303 Founders College (FC 303)  Register Now  
Academic Foundations Research Skills: Navigating, Reading and Evaluating Information  Monday November 24:00-5:30 p.m.Zoom Register Now  
Collaboration and Presentation Delivering Presentations with Clarity and Confidence  Tuesday November 34:30-6:00 p.m.Fred Thury Studio Theatre, 258 VC  Register Now  
Academic Foundations Succeeding in Your University Classes     Wednesday November 43:00-4:30 p.m. Zoom Register Now  
Academic Communication Writing matters: strengthening your academic voice    Wednesday November 11 3:00-4:30 p.m. McLaughlin Senior Common Room (MC 140)  Register Now  
Collaboration and Presentation Communicating Effectively in Group Assignments and Projects  Thursday November 263:00-4:30 p.m. Zoom Register Now  

This program is delivered together with York International.