The Wind Turbine Technician program at Lethbridge College in Alberta is an example of colleges and institutes enabling workers to redirect their skills to alternative employment opportunities.ISTOCK.COM
By Denise Amyot, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada.
In today’s workplace, concepts like robotics, automation and artificial intelligence that used to be in the realm of science fiction are becoming increasingly commonplace. These technologies are changing Canada’s workplaces and what employable skills look like.
Change is occurring at an unprecedented rate. The challenge we are now faced with is not simply adapting to change, but preparing for on-going disruption. Innovation has supplied us with tools and potential to do things better and faster; now, we need to adapt our skills to match.
For colleges and institutes, preparing Canadians for this future of work is a longstanding tradition rooted in a deep connection with industry. With the help of Program Advisory Committees (PACs), they respond to the needs of employers and ensure that students receive an education that equips them for the real-world labour-market. Whether short programs – ranging from a few days to a few months in length – designed specifically for reskilling and upskilling; more traditional bachelor’s degrees and diplomas; or micro-credentials whereby students can identify and attain specific, job-relevant skills, all aspects of college and institute programming benefit from this collaborative approach.
Preparing Canada’s future employees also comes in the form of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR), a process by which students can achieve academic credit by demonstrating acquired skills and knowledge through personal experience, independent study, previous employment, or on-the-job training. By assigning value to previous experience, PLAR allows learners to pursue credentials faster or without standard prerequisites and helps jumpstart new careers.
For example, the Wind Turbine Technician program at Lethbridge College in Alberta allows workers formerly employed in Canada’s oil and gas sector to redirect their skills to the benefit of alternative energy sources. The British Columbia Institute of Technology’s (BCIT) SITE Centre of Excellence uses PLAR to create specialized pathways for learners with particular emphasis on military members, mature students, and first responders. An agreement between colleges in Ontario and McDonald’s also allows workers to shift into postsecondary Business programs after completing on-the-job training.
These types of non-traditional programs have proven very successful and must be expanded to support an increasing number of workers displaced by technological disruption, and those seeking to keep up with changes in their industry.
With this in mind, I am optimistic about the future of work and skills, recognizing that we have a strong college and institute system in place in Canada to support workers – or those aspiring to join the workforce – through inevitable change. By investing more in flexible training options and recognition of previous experience, Canada can help all students, employers, entrepreneurs, and innovators navigate the landscape of tomorrow’s workplace. Have you reached out to see what they can do for you or your organization?
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.