FREDERICTON, Feb. 28, 2017 /CNW/ – The University of Fredericton (UFred) is proud to announce the acquisition of New Brunswick e-learning company Don Sayers and Associates (DSA). The acquisition, which is valued at approximately five million dollars Canadian, has been undertaken as an investment in furthering online health and safety education, both within Canada and globally.

“As an institution, our primary and most significant commitment is to our students and their success” said Don Roy, President of the University of Fredericton, “through the acquisition of DSA, we hope to be able to grow our OHS programs in ways otherwise not possible, offering our students accessible and innovative education that keeps pace with evolving industry demands.”

UFred and DSA have been partnered for more than eight years, with UFred hosting a number of their online programs, including the award-winning Certificate in Health, Safety and Environmental Processes program. The Certificate was the first asynchronous online OHS program of its kind in North America, making company founder Don Sayers a true leader in the field of OHS education.

When DSA began looking at succession planning, the existing relationship between UFred and Sayers made the acquisition a natural next-step. UFred aims to continue to grow the programs that Sayers devoted so much of his career to build.

“Ardith Sayers, Steve Hazzard and I founded this company nearly two decades ago out of concern for the “low safety literacy” of the safety professionals we were working with,” Sayers discusses. He went on to say that “since then, the Certificate has become a premiere learning tool for OHS practitioners. The experience has been very rewarding, but now a new time for the program has arrived.”

Both UFred and DSA represent significant New Brunswick success stories, and the University is thrilled to be able to continue to grow both its programs and its employee base in the Maritimes.

“A large part of our success is owed to the exceptional talent and innovation that has flourished right here in New Brunswick” said Roy, “we’re glad to be a part of the wave of technology-based growth in the Maritimes, and look forward to the new opportunities that this acquisition will create, both academically and with respect to our operations.”

DSA has long held a reputation for being leaders in content development for OHS, with more than 43 years of accumulated field and academic experience held by its founders. This experience was a driving force in the University’s decision to partner with the group. As the founders of DSA look to retirement post-acquisition, UFred has partnered with OHS expert and industry leader Eldeen Pozniak to ensure that quality and applicability remain top considerations.

“I am delighted about this partnership with UFred, as we share a commitment and dedication to the OHS profession,” said Pozniak, who began working with UFred in September 2016 as the University prepared for the transition, “I look forward to bolstering educational outreach, attracting students, and supporting students.”

Pozniak is currently Owner of Pozniak Safety Associates, based out of Saskatoon, SK and is Managing Director of Diggins Safety Consulting, based out of Phoenix, AZ. She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Safety Hall of Fame in 2014, and serves as President of the International Network of Safety and Health Practitioner Organizations (INSHPO).

Pozniak will be working with the University to grow its international reach through partnership development and market exploration. Her work will include enhancing UFred’s position as a leader in developing and providing OHS curriculum that escalates the value of the profession within business, Canada and Internationally.

UFred is a private, independent online University located in the heart of Fredericton, New Brunswick’s downtown core. With a student base approaching 3,000 students across every province and territory in Canada, the University is entirely self-sustaining. UFred is dedicated to reinvesting revenue in quality, applicable education that provides the tools students need to succeed both academically and professionally.

Internal processes and development will shift from DSA to University of Fredericton departments effective immediately.

About the University of Fredericton

The University of Fredericton (UFred) is a fully online Canadian University headquartered in Fredericton, New Brunswick. UFred offers certificate, diploma, and degree programs that emphasize leadership development and lifelong learning for upwardly mobile professionals.

For more information, visit www.UFred.ca

SOURCE University of Fredericton