The best way to succeed in Computer Science is to hone one’s skills. The faculty has many paths to help students shine from class projects to internships. ShiftKey’s path is through our Academy Up certificate programs.
The certificates, supported by our partner Cognizant, help students develop crucial skills for their classes and future careers. Students from Nova Scotia’s post-secondary institutions can sign up for these four-week programs hosted by students, alumni and industry professionals. Students can achieve their certificate by attending 3 of 4 classes and passing an exam or finishing a project.
“ShiftKey’s mission and goal is to provide opportunities for individuals to enhance their skills and grow their career in tech. Academy UP ties into that by organizing courses that expand upon the topics covered in the formal classes,” says Or Denemark, ShiftKey’s AcademyUP Program Coordinator. “For example, there might be a class dedicated to video game engines in general ShiftKey Academy might offer a course about a specific engine and how to use it.”
During the 2024 fall semester, ShiftKey hosted three programs: Generative AI with ShiftKey Student Technology Coordinator Vansh Sood, Data Analytics in Python with former ShiftKey Senior Student Ambassador Sahil Chawla, and DevOps Foundations with alumnus Zainuddin Saiyed.
Denemark states that students are key in creating a successful AcademyUP course that will interest them and their peers. “Our student staff are our bridge to what are the most popular topics participants would like to know about,” says Denemark. “Once we decide on a theme, a student lead is assigned to create and promote the course.”
ShiftKey’s support was crucial for students designing their course, giving students access to resources like Canva, booking rooms, providing snacks, and helping the students think creatively.
Talking about his experience creating his Generative AI course, Sood says that “the ShiftKey team played a huge role in ensuring everything ran smoothly, offering guidance, handling logistics, and fostering an environment where students could truly explore AI. Without their dedication, none of this would have been possible.”
Although ShiftKey provides some help, it is up to the students to create their courses.
Chawla, who graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Computer Science in the fall of 2024, interviewed students, alumni and industry professionals to create his course and understand what students wanted and needed to learn. “Based on this research, I started creating content that focused first on the fundamentals of Python and then gradually progressed into data analytics topics,” Chawla says.
Chawla also discovered a new way to assess students at the end of the course. Instead of a traditional exam, Chawla decided to have participants complete a final project instead. “This approach was much more engaging and allowed participants to apply their learning in a practical and meaningful way, which I found very rewarding.”
Sood also found creating his Generative AI course to be rewarding. Although course creation was at first daunting, he was inspired by his participants every session. From getting excited about open-source models to using F1 race prediction models to test their hypothesis, every bit was fulfilling.
“By the final week, I realized how much the students had grown, and I had learned just as much from them,” says Sood. “The best part? The ideas, the energy, and the shared learning experience. We tackled challenges together, explored real-world applications, and made AI more accessible and fun.”
Saiyed’s experience participating in ShiftKey events as well as his background in Computer Science, drove him to create his course. His favourite part of designing his course, which focused on students’ skills set needed for DevOps in the workforce, was his final project component. “[It] encouraged learners to extend their applications with custom features, ensuring a blend of structure and flexibility,” he says.
Dalhousie students who take part in a ShiftKey course can use what they have learned to take professional development courses in AWS, Google Cloud, Cybersecurity, Unity, and more. These courses, upon successful completion, are eligible for reimbursement from ShiftKey, which is also supported by Cognizant.
“All you need to do is fill out a few forms and show us a proof of payment and completion of a certification,” says Denemark. “If it is approved, we are able to reimburse you up to $150 CAD for your purchase. It is important to note that we are limited to two reimbursements per individual.”
During 2025, ShiftKey hopes to hold more certificates so that students have more opportunities to learn essential tools for their careers. Already, there have been three: SQL Foundations with alumna Vishwa Patel, Cloud Foundations with Sood, and Practical CyberSecurity with ShiftKey Ambassador Aman Bhalla.
Sood is optimistic about 2025, and his experience with ShiftKey Academy UP is already something he will never forget.
“Looking back this experience has reinforced one thing,” he says. “If you want to master something, teach it.”
If you are interested in participating in or creating a ShiftKey course or are interested in the Reimbursement Program, please email or@dal.ca.
