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POLYTECHNICS AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
How Canadian polytechnics are
preparing today's students for
tomorrow's workforce
December 2018
POLYTECHNICS AND THE FUTURE OF WORKThere are clear signs of change and disruption on the horizon. Automation, artificial intelligence and the Internet-of-Things are pushing their way into traditional fields like healthcare, agriculture and construction with a speed that we’ve come to associate with traditionally high-technology fields like information communications and advanced manufacturing. Traditional trading relationships are being redefined, putting pressure on the industries that have long been Canada’s economic engines and, at the same time, our workforce is coming up against a demographic headwind. Recognizing that while some jobs will disappear, others will be created and many more transformed need not be a bad news story. In fact, report after report on the future of work speaks to the skills that set humans apart, including dynamic problem-solving, teamwork and adaptability as much as the technical skills to control and exploit new technologies. Disruption, regardless of its source, calls for swift action to prepare Canadians with the skills they need to adapt to new realities. The challenge then is this – to develop the workforce we need today while empowering learners with the skills that secure their success tomorrow. We must address demographic realities that are leaving employment gaps in today’s critical sectors even as we set our sights on developing Canada’s human capital for an unknown future. In this environment, one thing is clear: Canada’s polytechnics are ideally positioned to lead the charge. Among Canada’s post-secondary institutions, polytechnics have proven themselves to be adaptable, agile, flexible and well-connected to industry. They deliver up-to-date and in-demand skills across sectors and to all age groups. They support hands-on, applied and technology-enabled classroom and workplace learning. Best of all, they have the unique ability to pivot quickly as the ground shifts around them. On the following pages, we’ve highlighted a few of the ways that Canadian businesses are benefitting from the power of a polytechnic partner as our institutions prepare learners for the changing nature of work.
2 Polytechnics and the Future of Work
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Learn more about Canada’s polytechnics, what differentiates them in the higher-education ecosystem and why they are the first-choice solution for many of the challenges related to the future of work.
1 | Canada's Polytechnics
The power of polytechnics to deliver a future-forward workforce is driven in large part by their proximity to, and partnerships with, industry and employers. Learn more about how polytechnics and industry are working together to create the workforce of the future.
2 | Industry Collaboration
In the face of disruption, career-oriented lifelong learning is a must. Learn more about how polytechnics are delivering the skills of the future, allowing Canadians to upskill in their current jobs or be rapidly retrained if they are displaced.
3 | Mid-career Worker Retraining
Polytechnics are innovation intermediaries, helping small and large businesses bring their ideas to life and get their products to market. Learn more about applied research in Canada and why our future of work needs more of it.
4 | Applied Research
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CANADA'S POLYTECHNICS
1If there ever were an institution designed to prepare our population for the workforce of tomorrow, it’s the polytechnic. In Canada, we have a three-engine post-secondary education system comprised of community colleges, universities and polytechnics, each with a differentiated mandate. Universities largely fill the role of knowledge generation, while community colleges and polytechnics each deliver talent that is responsive to the industry-demand of their respective regional economies. We differentiate polytechnics by the breadth and diversity of credentials they offer (applied four-year bachelor’s degrees, diplomas and advanced diplomas, certificates and graduate certificates, as well as apprenticeships in the skilled trades), their size and location in Canada’s key economic regions and their applied research capacity. The close ties to industry and various entry and exit points in the talent pipeline are what position Canada’s polytechnics so well as leaders in the development of our future workforce. Polytechnics work relentlessly with industry to build programs and design curricula, to conduct applied research that helps firms scale and get products to market, and to build talent pipelines that place students in work-integrated learning and graduates in careers. Importantly, it’s not just traditional students that polytechnics are preparing for the future workforce – it’s also those at mid-career who either find themselves displaced from the labour market or simply need short-term retooling to refine and modernize their skillsets.
APPLIED AND HANDS-ONPolytechnic education puts learners in their work environments, giving them the necessary theory and providing opportunities to develop the practical skills and industry-specific knowledge that will allow them to make an immediate impact on their field. One way impact is achieved is through work-integrated learning (WIL), ensuring students have spent a portion of their academic term in a real-world work environment. WIL is central to the polytechnic model and Canada’s polytechnics are national leaders in the delivery of WIL.
4 Section 1 | Canada's Polytechnics
Programs are responsive to industry demand, with industry at the table to help design curricula and ensure it is of the highest relevance. Working so closely to design curriculum and create work-integrated learning opportunities means there is a well-developed institution-to-industry pipeline to support smooth labour market transitions for polytechnic graduates.
INDUSTRY-DRIVEN
Cannabis, Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU’s School of Continuing and Professional studies has a launched a suite of courses designed to respond to an emerging cannabis market. As industry adjusts to a new normal around consumer demand, marketing and safety in this sector, a skilled and knowledgeable workforce is a critical priority.
Plant Production & Facility ManagementMarketing, Sales & Drug DevelopmentFinancing a Cannabis Enterprise in CanadaRetail Cannabis Consultant
Blockchain, George Brown College George Brown’s new blockchain program was developed in response to growing interest and demand for professionals with an understanding of this technology. “The most significant challenge inhibiting growth in blockchain today is sourcing qualified talent. With this new program, we are helping build the workforce that Canada needs to harness and ensure mainstream adoption of the technology.” Students learn to design and implement decentralized applications by leveraging blockchain. The program also covers full stack development, smart contracts, blockchain architecture, security practices and regulations.
- Albert Danison Chair, School of Computer Technology
Section 1 | Canada's Polytechnics 5
Polytechnics offer a breadth of credentials of varying lengths, all with the intent of equipping learners to enter the labour market as quickly as possible. Many programs are modular, with stackable credentials that allow students to move between education and the labour market. Polytechnics are constantly innovating the way in which credentials are delivered and at what speed, recognizing the requirements of both learners and industry.
SUPPORTING FULL-SPECTRUM WORKFORCE TRANSITION No matter where you find yourself in the labour force, polytechnics have a solution. Polytechnics deliver education and training to those entering post-secondary education for the first time, but also have flexible options that serve the needs of mid-career workers. Whether employed in the workforce and looking to modernize a skill set or temporarily displaced and looking to reskill, polytechnics have a solution. Partnerships with employers, continuing education options and bridge training build resilience, enhance skills and maximize workforce productivity.
FLEXIBLE BY DESIGN AND BUILT FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
Polytechnics deliver graduates with experience working on and with the up-to-date and innovative technologies in their field. Through participation in applied research, polytechnic students work with firms to solve technology-related challenges while building innovation-enabling skills.
TECHNOLOGY-ORIENTED
Micro-credentials, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning The world is changing, and Humber is changing with it. To reflect evolving workforce needs, Humber has recently launched a number of micro-credentials. Students will be able to earn stackable digital badges that reflect the most in-demand 21st century skills and competencies.
6 Section 1 | Canada's Polytechnics
INDUSTRYCOLLABORATION
2The ability of Canada’s polytechnics to be premier solution providers for future workforce development challenges is founded on their close ties with and proximity to industry. Polytechnic education is built in tandem with industry, for industry. Programs are created based on industry-demand and industry leaders sit on Program Advisory Committees to inform the creation of curricula. Employers provide work-integrated learning opportunities and work in collaboration with polytechnics to solve their pressing innovation challenges. Industry-responsiveness is marked by the ability of polytechnics to design and deploy courses and programs at the speed of business. Where other institutions might be challenged, polytechnics are flexible and adaptable in ways that allow in-demand programs to be developed on-demand.
PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEES Program Advisory Committees are a direct connection between industry and academia. The committee, comprised in part by employers, ensures programs and the skills they deliver are relevant to workforce needs. Advisors identify current and future industry trends, as well as shifts in the skills and knowledge graduates need. Committee members also assist in identifying industry resources, work-integrated learning options and graduate employment opportunities. In 2016/17, the members of Polytechnics Canada operated more than 1,000 Program Advisory Committees.
Section 2 | Industry Collaboration 7
The transition from school-to-work is made easier for graduates of Canada’s polytechnics in large part due to a commitment to WIL. WIL connects students to real-world work opportunities with employers, allowing them to develop the hands-on, applied and employability skills that are in high demand, but can be difficult to develop in a classroom.
WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL)
SPINVFX, Sheridan New technologies and techniques are changing the way video games, television and film are made. To keep on top of these shifts, Sheridan College has created the Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) – a Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC)-funded Technology Access Centre that involves a number of industry partners in the Toronto area, including SPINVFX. SIRT supports and fosters innovation in film, television, gaming and interactive media, creating work-integrated learning placements for Sheridan students along the way. For example, SPINVFX has created an internship program – Spinternships – that matches students and recent graduates with mentors, provides training and offers opportunities to familiarize themselves with different aspects of the film industry.
Siemens, Algonquin College A partnership between Algonquin College and Siemens Canada is creating hands-on applied learning experiences for close to 30 students. The school’s new one-year energy management graduate certificate program uses practical training to teach students the fundamentals of energy. Through a public-private partnership, students at Algonquin examine renewable energy solutions. While Algonquin is responsible for developing the program’s curriculum, Siemens Canada supplies the venue for hands-on learning. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s skilled workforce and strong private-public partnerships like the one between Siemens and Algonquin are vital to enhancing education and research in the energy space, ensuring Canada remains competitive and sustainable,“ said Robert Hardt, CEO at Siemens Canada. The campus learning facility complements the Energy Innovation Centre Plant, an on-campus, high-efficiency co-generation power plant.
8 Section 2 | Industry Collaboration
Conestoga @ The Foundry, Conestoga College Situated at 96 Grand Avenue South in a structure rich in industrial history dating to 1898, Conestoga @ The Foundry is Conestoga College’s new applied research hub. Key areas of research include smart manufacturing and digital innovation, cyber-security, and advanced recycling of waste electronics. Also located in this facility, Grand Innovations is a full service incubator, serving start ups, scale-ups, as well as corporate innovators. Invest Cambridge is another strategic partner located at 96 Grand. Far more than just sharing space, these partners share a vision of driving entrepreneurship, innovation and regional economic development. “Prosperity lies in the hands of those who are willing to create the future… and those who are willing to help them.” –Barbara Fennessy, Vice President Applied Research
Barret CTI + Skills Consortium, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning In 2019, Humber will open the Barret Centre for Technology and Innovation. The facility is dedicated to innovation, skills development, applied research and project-based, collaborative learning. It features digital activity zones rather than traditional classrooms. Equipped with industry-leading technology, companies will use the Barrett CTI to work with students and experts to solve business and innovation challenges while building on Humber’s expertise in automation and robotics, systems integration, advanced manufacturing and design, and user experience testing. Barret CTI will also host Humber’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Consortium, bringing together advanced manufacturing employers to build employment pathways and recruitment opportunities for Humber students and graduates.
Section 2 | Industry Collaboration 9
Employers know the benefit of working in close proximity with the talent that exists on polytechnic campuses. That’s why, across the country, dedicated spaces are springing up that facilitate collaboration between Canadian business looking to scale and Canada’s polytechnics. These collaborative spaces allow students and industry to come together to do tangible research and enhance innovation readiness, while building real-world experience and developing key competencies like critical thinking, problem-solving and communication in students.
10 Section 2 | Industry Collaboration
INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC COLLABORATIVE SPACES
Innovative Manufacturing Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic The Innovative Manufacturing Centre is home to Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s new Innovative Manufacturing program. Graduates will be ready for careers in the industrial, agricultural, mining, textile, forestry and food processing sectors, among others. At the same time, manufacturers can access the latest tools, equipment and expertise to improve their production methods and test new ideas, such as experimenting with bioplastics to make lighter, stronger, environmentally friendly components for their products. The facility also allows for prototyping and emergency parts creation.
The Productivity and Innovation Centre, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) The Productivity and Innovation Centre at NAIT is a state-of-the-art hub for applied research activity in Alberta. At 190,000 square feet, the centre houses advanced manufacturing labs, acceleration spaces for small- and medium-sized businesses, and flexible, collaborative workspaces that encourage clients, partners and staff to work together. The centre will also host NAIT’s Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability and the Centre for Sensors and System Integration. It will provide future space for applied research focused on construction, water technologies, distributed energy and more.
Photo courtesy of Leigh Kovesy, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Section 2 | Industry Collaboration 11
MID-CAREER WORKER RETRAINING
3The forces of economic change have created a significant need for lifelong learning. Career trajectories are no longer as linear as school to work – today and in the future, work will be punctuated by bursts of retraining. Lifelong learning has a front seat in Canada’s polytechnics, which offer upskilling and retraining to people at every stage of their careers. Polytechnics are creating a more resilient workforce by focusing on skills modernization, and a more productive workforce by ensuring those who are displaced are able to transition quickly.
SKILLS UPGRADINGTo ensure that their workers have the most up-to-date and in-demand skills and competencies, employers partner with polytechnics for expert-led education and training. Upgrading takes place in form of single-day workshops or can be delivered across weeks or months.
Boeing, Red River College Red River College, through the Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM), provides ongoing, specialized training to Boeing Canada through a long-term corporate training agreement. As a certified global training supplier to Boeing, Red River College is able to deliver customized training programs related to composite fabrication and repair, composite assembly, composite tooling, CNC operation and quality inspection, among others. These training programs are made possible by state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at Red River College’s aviation and aerospace campus and the technical expertise of TACAM staff, college instructors and contractors.
12 Section 3 | Mid-career Worker Retraining
Energy, Oil and Gas, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) SAIT provides hands-on, skills-based and technology-focused training solutions for the oil and gas industry worldwide. Active in the international marketplace for more than 30 years, SAIT has provided education and training services in numerous countries while serving clients including governments, national and international oil companies, and academic institutions. Oil and gas-related training programs are continuously updated to reflect the most current industry requirements and standards. Delivered through SAIT's MacPhail School of Energy — the first school of energy in Canada and one of only a handful in North America — labs and classrooms house sophisticated equipment, systems and training infrastructure to prepare employees for immediate, real-world application. SAIT’s training programs offer an industry-recognized standard for the skills development and progression of operators worldwide. Every year, SAIT trains some 7,000 operators in competency-based programs offered in formats including correspondence, online, instructor-led and blended.
Financial Services, Seneca College Seneca College's Faculty of Continuing Education, in association with the Canadian Securities Institute, offers an accelerated bridging program for internationally trained professionals with a background in financial services. This program is designed to help newcomers enter into the financial sector’s labour market in the shortest time possible. The Professional Excellence in Financial Services (EFS) Bridging Program builds on the existing knowledge of learners to prepare them for career opportunities with banks, credit card companies, insurance companies, investment funds, stock brokerages, consumer-finance companies, credit unions, accountancy companies and some government-sponsored enterprises.
Section 3 | Mid-career Worker Retraining 13
Retraining Canada’s Veterans, British Columbia Institute of Technology BCIT’s SITE Centre of Excellence conducts prior learning research and assessment, giving advanced standing to those from non-traditional educational backgrounds. For example, the Legion Military Skills Conversion program accelerates and advances the civilian careers of Canadian Forces members by mapping learning outcomes rather than course equivalencies. The SITE Centre also serves first responders and mature students, with potential to serve other mid-career workers and new Canadians.
BRIDGE TRAINING AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The ability to quickly retrain and re-deploy workers will be paramount to Canada’s success in an age of economic and technological disruption. One of the keys will be to identify the specific work-related skills of individuals who find themselves in transition and match them to appropriate retraining opportunities. Doing so stands to leverage their previous learning and skills, maximizing efficient labour market transitions. Bridge training programs are designed to launch skilled newcomers into positions that match their experience in the shortest possible time and into high-demand fields with strong employment prospects. Through competency-based assessments, wrap-around supports such as language training, and in-class instruction from industry professionals, newcomers are able to quickly launch careers in fields that utilize their existing skills, competencies and knowledge in the Canadian labour market. Bridging programs can also be used to assist displaced workers transitioning from one industry to another. Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is one way to measure an individual’s existing stock of skills, knowledge and abilities acquired through all previous experiences in employment or education. Once the assessment is complete, individuals can be directed to the most appropriate retraining and education opportunities. In most cases, this serves to shorten time in training to focus on gaps, rather than requiring learners to spend time on skills and competencies they have already mastered.
14 Section 3 | Mid-career Worker Retraining
APPLIED RESEARCH
4For Canadian businesses - in all sectors, including the not-for-profit - developing, validating and testing prototypes, adopting the latest technology and moving products from concept to commercialization is challenging – and many rely on the applied research expertise and services of Canada’s polytechnics for this innovation support. In a changing technological landscape, these services are critical to keeping Canadian businesses productive and competitive in the global economy. Applied research isn’t just beneficial to employers, but also to students. When polytechnics partner with employers to solve an innovation challenge, they often utilize student talent. That means while in-study, students are working alongside employers, solving real-world challenges, ensuring they are prepared to succeed in an innovation-enabled economy. Another important distinction of polytechnic-industry applied research is that all intellectual property (IP) created through industrial collaborations is typically retained by the industry partner. Ensuring IP stays with the employer rather than the institution amplifies the incentive for creative engagement and provides a secure environment for collaboration. Since 2008/09, Polytechnics Canada’s member colleges and institutes have:
Serviced 16,000 Canadian companies, approximately 75% of which are SMEs*Conducted 18,700 applied research projects solving industry-identified problemsEngaged 15,050 college staff and faculty in applied research activityInvolved 93,500 college students on hands-on applied research projectsDeveloped 6,500 prototypes for their industry research partners
*Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) percentage since 2011/12.
A one-of-a-kind robot is hard at work in southwestern Ontario thanks to a research collaboration between London, Ontario based A&L Canada Laboratories and Fanshawe College. A&L, one of the province’s largest agricultural and environmental laboratories specializing in soil, plant tissue, fertilizer and water testing, approached the college with a specific problem related to the automation of their soil sampling. A&L was at capacity with its equipment and needed to develop a new way to meet industry demand. The research collaboration, funded through the College and Community Innovation Program, is a win-win-win for the partner, the college and the students who benefited from unique skill development opportunities.
Section 4 | Applied Research 15
A&L Canada Laboratories, Fanshawe College
Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre, Red River College Red River College’s Vehicle Technology & Energy Centre (VTEC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is operating at the forefront of the vehicle technology industry. The institution works on applied research and development projects in partnership with industry, with an emphasis on vehicle development and performance improvement. This includes research on vehicle weight reduction, emissions reduction, vehicle electrification and sensor applications on vehicles. The team has also expanded in preparation for an ambitious research agenda, including big data analytics, autonomous vehicles and alternative energy sources, such as hydrogen. VTEC’s expertise in vehicle electrification led to an applied research partnership with New Flyer and Winnipeg Transit, installing data loggers on an electric bus to study battery performance in a climate that undergoes extreme season-to-season temperature variation.
Cowessess First Nation, Saskatchewan Polytechnic An applied research partnership between Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Cowessess First Nation has made dispatching first responders easier and more effective by developing precision mapping procedures. Using GIS technology, SaskPoly grad and instructor Abdul Raouf created a geo-database of the roads and homes of the Cowessess First Nation community. Reducing 911 response times stands to make a life-saving impact for this and other rural communities. “This project provides vital geo-spatial information of the roads and homes of Cowessess First Nation in the form of digital maps,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, president and CEO of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. “These maps will be integrated into an existing database to provide emergency responders with critical information to respond to calls more efficiently and effectively on the Cowessess First Nation.”
16 Section 4 | Applied Research
CONCLUSION
Maintaining a productive, innovative, competitive and equitable society in the face of economic and technological disruption is no small challenge. However, when Canada’s polytechnics are fully utilized, we are up to the task. Our young learners need new skills – polytechnics are delivering; our mid-career workers need to retrain – polytechnics are delivering; our small businesses need to get products to market – polytechnics are delivering here too. No matter how our economic landscape changes, polytechnics have a made-in-Canada solution to strengthen our human capital and our capacity to compete on a global stage.
Conclusion 17
ABOUT US
Polytechnics Canada is the voice of leading research-intensive, publicly funded polytechnics, colleges and institutes of technology. Our mission is policy advocacy for federal action in innovation and skills. Polytechnics Canada members play a critical role in enhancing Canada’s productivity and innovation. Through their facilities and networks, our members provide meaningful solutions to industry problems and accelerate knowledge transfer. Graduates are job-ready and armed with the skills employers need across sectors. Close ties to industry make the polytechnic talent pipeline dynamic and responsive to the challenges of developing the future workforce. Polytechnics work with industry to build programs and design curricula, to conduct applied research that helps firms scale and get products to market. They offer students work-integrated learning opportunities and position graduates for careers. Beyond the traditional student, polytechnics embrace those at mid-career who find themselves displaced from the labour market or simply need short-term retooling to refine and modernize their skillsets. At Polytechnics Canada, we are proud promoters of the polytechnic education model – applied, hands-on and technical; industry-focused and industry-driven. Learn more at www.polytechnicscanada.ca.
18 About Us
OUR MEMBERS
Our Members 19
