As a means to effectively address Canada’s growing need for upskilling, we support the development of an all encompassing and robust skills ecosystem, one that is built on ongoing collaboration among all learning providers (including public and private post-secondary institutions, union training systems, and corporate training programs), learners, and employers. This dynamic ecosystem will serve as a framework for aligning the training our education system offers with the evolving needs of the job market and for promoting continuous skills development for our whole workforce.
A Skills-First Approach to Learning
We need to emphasize learning that is directly applicable to specific jobs or industries. The focus of our upskilling and reskilling initiatives should be to equip workers with the competencies they’ll need to thrive in their chosen field. By emphasizing practical skills acquisition we can help ensure that learners are better prepared to meet the demands of the modern workplace.
The success of this skills ecosystem relies on four key pillars: applied learning experiences, customized and flexible learning, competency-based assessment and recognition, and high quality data.
Applied Learning Experiences
Applied learning experiences are the key to complementing theoretical knowledge with practical application. Applied learning encompasses work-integrated learning, cooperative education programs, and on-the-job training. By immersing learners in real-world settings, their experiences will enable them to apply their skills in authentic contexts, which in turn will enhance both their employability and readiness for the workforce.
Customized and Flexible Learning
An effective skills and training system must recognize and address the reality that individuals have diverse learning needs and preferences. By offering customized and flexible learning pathways, just-in-time learning, online learning modules, hybrid learning formats, and skill-based learning units we can better serve individual learners’ schedules, preferences, and skill gaps. This approach promotes a high degree of engagement and helps to ensure that learning experiences are tailored to meet the specific needs of learners and employers alike.
Competency-Based Assessment and Recognition
Competency-based assessment and recognition mechanisms are an essential component of effectively validating the competencies learners acquire through a wide variety of learning initiatives. By using micro-credentials, badges, and industry certificates learners and employers are provided with tangible evidence of an individual’s skills and accomplishments. Such credentials can enhance not only a learner’s credibility their marketability. Aligning assessment practices with industry standards ensures that learners’ achievements are recognized and valued by employers.
High Quality Data
High-quality data is crucial in the skills ecosystem as it ensures that decisions regarding curriculum development, resource allocation, and policy-making are based on accurate and reliable information. Using detailed and precise data to report and monitor student outcomes enables educators and employers to identify trends, gaps, and successes, facilitating targeted interventions and improvements. Furthermore, it supports a transparent and accountable framework where progress and challenges within the ecosystem can be effectively communicated, enhancing continuous improvement and trust.
Through expanded initiatives to: foster ongoing collaboration among learning providers, learners, and employers; embrace the principles of skills-first learning, applied learning experiences, customized and flexible learning; and by adopting competency-based assessment and recognition, Canada can build and sustain a resilient skills ecosystem, one that will help meet the evolving needs of its workforce and drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
