Opinions

Providing learners with the practical experience and skills to excel in their industry is a key strength of Canada’s polytechnics.  In the healthcare field, this applied approach prepares graduates to interact with patients.  While restrictions on in-person training have eased over the past few months, safety is still top of mind in Seneca’s labs and classrooms.  The challenge now is finding the right balance between hands-on opportunities and using technology to deliver substantive clinical training remotely.

Polytechnics Canada chatted with Sharon Cassar, the Academic Chair for Seneca’s School of Nursing, to find out what this looks like in practice.

Read More > “A new era of healthcare training: the 2021 applied learning model at Seneca”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations in virtually every sector have needed to adapt and pivot, implementing new practices and technologies to support sustainability and growth.  Rapid changes accelerated labour challenges that Canadian companies were facing even before the pandemic, including the urgent need for upskilling and the search for new talent.

Read More > “Work-integrated learning at George Brown College”

It was a year of innovation, collaboration and for one institution, a new name. As I reflect on all that has been accomplished in 2021, it is clear that our members rose to the challenges of the pandemic and, at the same time, actively contributed to efforts to combat climate change, advance Indigenous reconciliation and enable inclusive recovery. 

Here are a few highlights that stood out for me: 

Read More > “2021: The year in review”

The conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) saw renewed climate change commitments from more than 200 countries, Canada among them.

Now that the targets are set, it is time to get to work. Canada’s Climate Plan focuses on cutting energy waste in buildings, improving the efficiency of transportation and energy production, building a clean industrial advantage and adopting nature-based climate solutions. From Canada’s infrastructure plan to setting a price on carbon, the federal government is dedicating resources to incentivize a net-zero transition

Read More > “Skills critical to delivering on Canada’s climate change ambitions”

The recently tabled Supporting People and Businesses Act included a proposed initiative by the provincial government to expand credentials in the public college system to include applied master’s degrees. 

This is very encouraging news and, if passed, something that would help keep more talent and skill in Ontario. Applied master’s degrees offered by Ontario colleges would create opportunities to develop critical skills and specialties within the province. 

Read More > “Working together to establish more opportunities for students in Ontario”

It is no longer necessary to expound on the importance of taking action to address climate change.  Canada’s federal government and every major political party have committed to addressing the problem.  There is widespread support among Canadians and, indeed, our global counterparts.  Increasingly, we are seeing larger emitters – companies, sectors, provinces – committing to a greener future.  What remains are the specifics of a just transition.  

Read More > “Green educational infrastructure: A building block for just transition”

Making inroads for college researchers amidst Canada’s university-dominated research and innovation landscape often feels like climbing uphill in mud. This feeling persisted long before the pandemic and has only been amplified since. But, like climbing uphill in mud, it’s an invigorating adventure. The work of our researchers is too often overlooked and undervalued, and it’s long overdue that we start talking more about it.

Read More > “College research and innovation is helping Canada build back better”

Providing a hands-on, industry-aligned education has long been a priority for Canada’s polytechnics.  Institutions are continually re-evaluating their approaches to training and course delivery, responding to industry demand and learner preferences.  At the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), this evolution has reached skilled trades programming – one of the most traditional learning pathways on offer.  The institution recently introduced a fast-track pathway to apprenticeship that includes a focus on employability skills identified by industry as critical.

Polytechnics Canada sat down with NAIT’s Dean of Skilled Trades, Matthew Lindberg, to discuss what’s changed.

Read More > “Skilled trades training in 2021: A polytechnic approach”

As industries grow and adapt to both technological and social transformations in Canadian society, polytechnics work to ensure their program offerings keep pace with a dynamic labour market.  One way they do this is by involving industry experts in curriculum design, ensuring programs meet the needs of an evolving workforce.  With increasing demand for mid-career upskilling, BCIT has recently launched three industry-relevant microcredentials: mass timber construction, natural resource protection and digital transformation.

Polytechnics Canada sat down with Tom Roemer, BCIT’s Vice President Academic, to discuss the new approach.

Read More > “Microcredentials are an agile, stackable upskilling offering at BCIT”