July 21, 2011 | British Columbia

Vancouver, BC – July 20, 2011 – As of September 1, 2011, students at CDI College campuses across the country will be training for new careers using iPads and e-textbooks. All students who enroll in one of the college’s business, healthcare or technology programs this fall will receive an iPad when they commence their studies.

According to CDI College officials, the transition to iPads and e-textbooks will give students an opportunity to use the latest technology to enhance their learning experience and productivity. Students will have more control over the pace of their studies and be able to interact with classmates and instructors even when they’re not in the classroom. The college also believes that the tools will remove barriers and make the return to school less intimidating for a large percentage of its students.

“The majority of our students have been in the workforce for some time and come to CDI College because they’re dissatisfied with their current job,” says Larry Heinzlmeir, CDI College’s VP of Marketing. “We want to empower our students to transition to a world of new opportunities. Incorporating new technology like iPads and e-textbooks is just one example of how we’re doing it.”

In addition, the college launched a nation-wide TV campaign to accompany its iPad-based e-textbook initiative earlier this week. Created by a talented production team from across North America, the 30-second “Set Change” spot features a young woman physically changing her career setting from a drab retail environment to a hospital nurses station. The spot was done in a single shot, without any digital effects. The commercial is available on YouTube.

This initiative is the largest application of its kind in the education sector in Canada. It builds upon a successful pilot project CDI College launched at its Calgary North campus last fall.