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Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders in Human Resources
A look inside the human resources capstone course
Theory meets practice for fourth-year students in a Human Resources (HR) course spearheaded by Hina Kalyal, a seasoned instructor within the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics (MEM). Reinforcing concepts taught in previous classes, capstone projects in the Human Resources Administration for HR Students course provides students with opportunities to turn knowledge into actionable solutions as they prepare to embark on their professional journey in HR.
Kalyal is committed to creating a learning environment that is both practical and fun for her students. “I want them to feel excited and engaged with the content,” she explains. One way she achieved this during the 2023-24 academic year was by inviting alumni guest speakers into her classroom.
“I am amazed by how engaged alumni want to be and how generously they contribute their time, expertise, and words of encouragement to our students.”
Five distinguished alumni participated as guest speakers throughout the course, sharing insights from their careers.
“The guest speakers were definitely a highlight of the course,” says student Tan Han Luong. “They injected fresh perspectives and real-world insights into our classroom, bringing unique perspectives and invaluable expertise.”
Alumni also facilitated connections with some of the organizations that became clients for the students’ capstone projects. Once partnered with one of the participating companies: Toyota, K2 Services, Trillium Health Care Products, Maple Reinders, or the Town of Innisfil, student teams were tasked with tackling real-life HR challenges and preparing detailed consultancy reports that were presented to their respective organization.
For fourth-year student Assil Miri, the capstone project goes beyond academic exercise; it’s a foundation for her future endeavours. “It is an experience I can talk about during interviews or refer back to during my future job when dealing with similar challenges and solutions,” she reflects, highlighting the practical experience she gained from the course.
Luong echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the transformative impact of the capstone journey. “The collaborative nature of this project has been instrumental in refining my communication, leadership, and teamwork skills.”
He adds, “[Instructor] Hina’s commitment to our education didn’t go unnoticed. We are grateful for her unwavering support and dedication throughout the course.”
Along with the practical experience gained through the capstone projects, a partnership between the School of MEM and the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) allows students to apply this course toward their Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.
Thank you to Mark Brennan ’96, Lana Burton ’00, Connor Couchman ’22, Annette Das Neves ’00, Axelle Flemming ’03, Ann Tavares ’91, Mardi Walker ’80 and Trevor Wiken ’11, for supporting the students and their capstone projects. Although the inaugural year of the course has concluded, it will continue again in the 2024-25 academic year.
Alumni in the HR field who are interested in supporting the next generation of HR leaders are encouraged to contact alumni@kings.uwo.ca to discuss opportunities.
