Opinions

In the tapestry of Canadian identity, few symbols resonate as deeply as maple syrup. Whether it’s drizzled over a stack of pancakes, made into maple candy or exchanged as a gift, this delicacy embodies Canada.

As the 2024 maple syrup season comes to a close, it is difficult to overlook the notable challenges confronting Canada’s agricultural sector, particularly with high grocery costs, labour shortages and the escalating impacts of climate change splashed across daily newspapers.

Read More > “Pursuing Solutions in Canada’s Food Sector”

In 2017, six institutions with longstanding ties and a common focus on the polytechnic model of education formed the Global Partners European Alliance, renamed Global Polytechnic Education Alliance in 2022. The GPEA focuses on building comprehensive relationships and global collaborative opportunities related to academics, applied research, professional development and community outreach. The group will offer sessions at this year’s Polytechnic Showcase, with more than two dozen representatives joining us in Ottawa.

Polytechnics Canada caught up with one of the group’s leaders, Glendali Rodriguez, Provost and Vice Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stout, to learn more about their interest in connecting with Canadian counterparts.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase spotlight: Global Polytechnic Education Alliance”

As an approach to cultivating workforce skills, apprenticeship has yet to reach its full potential. In Apprentice Nation: How the “Earn and Learn” Alternative to Higher Education will Create a Stronger and Fairer America, higher education expert Ryan Craig speaks to how the apprenticeship model could be adapted to train a new generation of technology workers in fields that are changing faster than most post-secondary curricula can adapt.

Craig offers a thought-provoking analysis of the shortcomings of a traditional college education in the United States, speaking to both the time commitment and price of advanced education. For many prospective students, he argues the path to a “good first job” is rife with barriers that post-secondary education has been unable to sufficiently overcome. To deliver labour market success, particularly for marginalized and low-income students, he offers practical policy advice designed to better engage employers in training the workforce they need.

Read More > “Book Summary: Apprentice Nation by Ryan Craig”

From improving healthcare to confronting climate change, polytechnics have a front-row seat to industry’s most pressing talent and productivity challenges. Ahead of the 2024 Polytechnic Showcase, Polytechnics Canada connected with Sheridan to discuss their session on Leveraging AI for Improved Elder Care: Innovative Digital Companions for a Changing Demographic.

Project leads, Lia Tsotsos, Director of the Centre for Elder Research and Stephan Kozak, primary investigator and CG Animation VFX Lead at Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT) were able to share a glimpse into their collaborative research.

Read More > “2024 Polytechnic Showcase Spotlight: How Sheridan is Leveraging AI for Improved Elder Care”

With the rise of remote and hybrid work, organizations have increasingly moved to cloud-based servers and become reliant on virtual environments. Data breaches and ransomware attacks that threaten to both tarnish a company’s image and inflict severe financial losses are increasingly common. In today’s environment, the need for robust cybersecurity has never been more apparent.

With these concerns, the demand for cybersecurity professionals has skyrocketed. Organizations increasingly need both in-house talent and the support of dedicated cybersecurity firms. Unfortunately, like many technical industries in Canada, cybersecurity experts are in short supply.

Read More > “Strengthening Canada’s Cybersecurity Workforce: The Mission Critical Role of Polytechnics”

As another year comes to an end, it’s time to reflect and set goals for 2024. At Polytechnics Canada, part of this effort will include re-dedicating ourselves to addressing longstanding challenges like climate change, diversity and inclusion, lagging business productivity and skills shortages in critical occupations – areas where it is clear that polytechnic education is already making important contributions.

Here are just a few examples of the significant impact of our members in 2023:

Read More > “2023 in Review: Navigating Canada’s Challenges”

At just 32 years old, Vic Savino is the Director of Communications for the Treaty One Nations.

It’s a dynamic role, one that allows him to serve community members from the seven First Nations in Treaty No.1 territory and dive into projects like the development of the Naawi-Oodena urban reserve. Such a prominent director position at age 32 is certainly not the standard. But then, Savino’s life has been anything but.

Read More > “Polytechnic Alumni Spotlight: Vic Savino, Director of Communications for the Treaty One Nations”

Polytechnic institutions offer expert-led, industry-relevant training for high-performance talent. In this Q&A series, graduates from across our member institutions discuss how a polytechnic education helped propel their success in diverse fields.

Polytechnics Canada sat down with Kandise MacLeod, a 2011 graduate of Sheridan’s Welding Techniques program. Kandise is a boilermaker journeyperson and a radiation protection coordinator who holds a key supervisory position at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of her fellow tradespeople in a radiological environment. She is highly skilled in the trades and has taken polytechnic programs and training to build on her expertise as a welder.

Read More > “Polytechnic Alumni Spotlight: Kandise MacLeod, Radiation Protection Coordinator at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station”

Polytechnics serve as innovation intermediaries for organizations of all shapes and sizes, providing state-of-the-art facilities, equipment and high-performance talent. Through applied research partnerships, polytechnics support businesses looking to overcome obstacles to growth, realize greater efficiencies, reduce costs and enter new markets. Solutions that emerge from these partnerships also address wider global challenges, such as fighting climate change, creating a more inclusive society and strengthening our healthcare system.

Polytechnics Canada recently connected with Nick Spina, CEO of Ethey Foods, a London-based business working with Fanshawe College. Their applied research partnership has pioneered a new plastic recycling technology that reduces used plastic into either a liquid or powder form which is, in turn, used to create new plastic packaging.

Read More > “Polytechnic Industry Partner Spotlight: Pioneering New Recycling Technology with Ethey Foods”