Educational Partners

EDAC has enjoyed a multi-decade partnership with the University of Waterloo’s Economic Development Program.  Gain the skills, the network, and the credentials to lead. The University of Waterloo Certificate in Economic Development is the essential professional development milestone for Canadian practitioners. Across two levels of immersive training—Fundamentals (Year 1) and Advancement (Year 2)—you will gain expert-led insights into investment attraction, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth.

New for the fall of 2026, Waterloo will offer it’s Year 1 Program as a weekly online class.

For those looking to dive deeper, the Master of Economic Development and Innovation (MEDI) at the University of Waterloo is Canada’s leading graduate program specifically designed to bridge the gap between advanced economic theory and transformative local practice.  Housed within the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), the MEDI program prepares the next generation of leaders to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing global economy. It is uniquely structured to provide both the academic rigor of a Master’s degree and the professional accreditation required to excel in the field.

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) offers a 12-month online Certificate in Local Economic Development through The Chang School. Taught by experienced industry professionals, the program uses an advanced experiential learning model and contemporary case studies to prepare you for real-world municipal and regional economic development challenges.

The program consists of four online courses covering essential topics in business administration, public administration, project management, real estate, airport development, and marketing. It concludes with a practical capstone project where students address a specific, real-world economic development challenge for a community.

Completion of this course qualifies for EDAC professional development points towards eligibility to write the EcD Exam.

Enhance your skills and expertise through high-quality programs offered by our provincial and economic development partners. These EDAC-recognized opportunities allow you to build a more powerful professional toolkit while accumulating points toward achieving or maintaining your Ec.D. designation.