Navigate our changing world without a commitment to full-time education.
About the BEI
In April 2021, the Balsillie School of International Affairs launched the Balsillie Executive Institute (BEI), offering certificate-based professional development short courses to those interested in enhancing their skills and remaining abreast of current sector-relevant thinking, without a commitment to full-time education.
At the BEI, executive course and masterclass delivery is led by globally renowned experts in their fields. This expertise draws on the institutional centres of excellence in Waterloo, ON and beyond. The BEI’s wide network of international partners, who preside as national experts within their own geo-strategic and cultural contexts, ensure that our delivery reflects global perspectives for those seeking careers in internationally minded organizations.
Photo: Centre for International Governance Innovation, by M. Mezulis
Our approach
The BEI leads on the delivery of research-informed training with relevant practical outcomes. Offering executive courses and masterclasses, BEI courses cater to current-day demands on both work and personal schedules. For this reason, our instructors are available for both in-person and online course delivery.
All course content focuses on projecting the latest knowledge combined with valuable skill sets which align with the expectations of experts and leaders working at all levels of government, non-government, and private sector organizations.
These courses are also available in bespoke course formats, which can be molded to suit the purposes of specific institutions and organizations.
Photo: Centre for International Governance Innovation courtyard, by J2d50 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What sets us apart
Situated at the heart of Waterloo’s intellectual square mile, the BEI is committed to the delivery of current knowledge and future trends. The executive training offerings also reflect the unique comparative advantage which Waterloo-based experts, whose research addresses the intersection between technology and policy, bring to executive education and training. The BEI’s wide network of international partners, who preside as national experts within their own geo-strategic and cultural contexts, ensure that our delivery reflects global perspectives and wider international good practice, offering an unrivalled and truly unique experience.
Verifiable, traceable certificates
The Balsillie Executive Institute now issues digital credentials—including badges and microcredentials— through MyCreds®, Canada’s national digital credential platform, which offers verifiable recognition of learning.
Developed by the Association of Registrars of the Universities and Colleges of Canada (ARUCC), MyCreds® provides learners with a secure digital wallet where they can access, store, and share verified academic and professional credentials. Credentials issued through MyCreds® are authentic, tamper-evident, and can be securely shared with employers, professional organizations, and other institutions.
Digital credentials such as certificates, badges, and microcredentials complement traditional degrees and diplomas by recognizing specific skills, competencies, and professional achievements. They help learners showcase targeted expertise, support lifelong learning, and enhance learner mobility by making credentials easier to verify and share across organizations and jurisdictions.
