The Future Skills Centre (FSC) has invested $25.9 million CAD in 10 of its most promising projects to date, as the hub aims to strengthen skills development initiatives across Canada to support workers and employers during COVID-19 and post-pandemic.
All of these skills development projects were previously funded by FSC, and according to the centre, have shown “early signs of success and the potential for wider impact.” FSC said it based its assessment on such metrics as strong or accelerated completion rates and good job placement statistics.
Going forward, FSC has
vowed to scale 20 percent
of its most promising initiatives.
Going forward, FSC has vowed to scale 20 percent of its most promising initiatives.
“Given the scale of disruption and the need to accelerate solutions toward a recovery, we have committed to scaling 20 percent of the most promising ideas in the portfolio we built in our first two years,” stated the FSC.
The FSC is a Ryerson University-based research hub that invests in programs and academic research that address the future of skills and work in Canada. The centre is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
Last June, FSC invested in 30 projects testing solutions for Canada’s evolving labour market. To date, the centre has invested in 120 innovation projects spanning every province and territory.
The full list of funded projects includes:
–Upskilling Canadian Youth for Tech Careers, in partnership with NPower Canada, trains vulnerable young adults and those in low-wage jobs for careers in tech
-In partnership with Calgary Economic Development, EDGE UP aims to help displaced workers from Calgary’s oil and gas sector transition towards the IT sector
–ADaPT / Defining Digital Competencies, in partnership with TECHNATION Canada and Ryerson’s Diversity Institute, opens new pathways into digital jobs for non-STEM graduates
–Facilitating Access to Skilled Training (FAST), in partnership with the Immigration Employment Council of British Columbia, assesses newcomers’ skills to help them overcome barriers and integrate into the Canadian job market
–In Motion & Momentum+ (IM&M+), in partnership with the Canadian Career Development Foundation, aims to help job seekers identify strengths and address employment-readiness challenges to break cycles of dependence on social assistance
-In partnership with the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation, Tourism & Hospitality Emergency Response is helping displaced hospitality workers to navigate an uncertain future and gain new skills for changing jobs
–Employment Integration in Youth Service Hubs, n partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, trains and supports individuals facing mental health challenges so they can obtain competitive jobs
–Material Handling 4.0, in partnership with Mohawk College, helps people who face barriers to employment and education to transition to jobs in the supply chain sector
-In partnership with Pier Labs, Aspire Atlantic trains people in Nova Scotia and PEI for jobs in sectors based on demands and needs from local employers
–Assessing Employability Skills with ESAT, in partnership with Futureworx, is an online tool that supports and engages people to develop the social and emotional skills needed for labour market success
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