The Ontario government is supporting the development of new micro-credentials to help students train for in-demand jobs in priority sectors like health care and advanced manufacturing. Through a second round of the Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund, the province has invested $5 million for eligible postsecondary institutions to work with industry to co-create or expand rapid training programs that respond to Ontario's evolving labour market.
"The Micro-credentials Challenge Fund brings industry and institutions together to create programs that strengthen Ontario's workforce and economy," said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. "Micro-credentials reflect current and local labour market needs and immediately prepare students for industry-relevant opportunities in their region."
Micro-credentials offer greater flexibility and take less time to complete than standard degrees and diplomas and provide learners with the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to prospective employers. For employers, micro-credentials help their workers quickly upskill to adapt to evolving technologies, trends and practices. These programs promote lifelong learning and contribute to Ontario's overall prosperity.
This year, Ontario is providing funding for 88 micro-credential projects at colleges, universities, Indigenous Institutes and career colleges across the province. Projects include:
- Canadian College of Healthcare and Pharmaceutics - Cybersecurity for Healthcare Professionals: Designed to teach health care professionals to effectively manage cybersecurity projects involving medical devices. This training is valuable to any work that involves collaboration with health care institutions, medical device manufacturers and cybersecurity experts.
- Fanshawe College - Manufacturing Fundamentals: Will prepare learners with the skills for the evolving manufacturing landscape driven by robotics, artificial intelligence and digital advances. Developed in both English and French in partnership with Collège La Cité.
- First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) - Treaties, Agreements and Land Claims: Provides both Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners with an understanding of Indigenous nation-to-nation relations to assist learners in their work with Indigenous clients and partners.
- Mohawk College - Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Upskilling for Electricians: Provides licensed electricians with specialized skills in the booming electric vehicle industry, including construction, installation and maintenance of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and infrastructure.
- Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute - Revitalizing the Role of the Community Health Representative: Provides Indigenous learners with training to enhance their role as Community Health Representatives and create stronger partnerships between community-based employers and Indigenous health authorities to better serve Indigenous patients.
- Université de Hearst - Introduction to Small Business Management for Healthcare Professionals: Provides business and marketing skills to French-language health care professionals so they can manage their own practices and improve health care services in Francophone communities.
Quick Facts
- The Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
- During the first round of the Micro-credentials Challenge Fund, Ontario supported the creation of more than 300 new micro-credentials that are anticipated to serve approximately 6,000 learners.
- Since 2020, the Ontario government has announced investments of over $60 million in Ontario's Micro-credentials Strategy, including Ontario's Micro-credentials Challenge Fund.
- In 2021, Ontario became the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer student financial assistance for micro-credentials. More than 2,000 skill-based and job-focused micro-credential programs are now approved for assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), with more being approved on a regular basis.
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