Ryerson University leads Future Skills Centre Consortium
TORONTO, February 20, 2019 --- A Canadian workforce that incorporates new technology and adapts is key to Canada’s long-term economic growth. On February 14, the federal government announced that Ryerson University will lead The Future Skills Centre – Centre des Compétences futures (external link) (FSC-CCF) to help ensure Canadians develop the skills they need to succeed in the new economy.
“As Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education, Ryerson University is proud to lead the consortium for this important federal government initiative alongside The Conference Board of Canada and Blueprint,” said Ryerson University President Mohamed Lachemi. “With expertise in multidisciplinary, large-scale research and evaluation projects, Ryerson is well-positioned to help prepare Canadians for emerging opportunities today and beyond.”
FSC-CCF is a partnership of Ryerson University, The Conference Board of Canada (external link) and Blueprint (external link) that will forge a network of partners from across the country, and fund projects that develop, test and measure new approaches to skills assessment and development.
“Ryerson University’s strong focus on innovation and evidence-based research has made us a preferred partner for government, industry, not-for-profit organizations and communities,” said Steven Liss, Ryerson University Vice-President, Research and Innovation and Acting Chair of the Interim Advisory Board for the Future Skills Centre.
The Government of Canada is investing $225 million in Future Skills over four years, and $75 million per year thereafter to:
- Build an integrate pan-Canadian network of diverse partners and stakeholders across the skills development and training ecosystem;
- Help Canadians make informed training decisions by identifying emerging in-demand skills now and in years to come;
- Help Canadians gain the skills they need to adapt and succeed in the workforce by developing, testing, and evaluating innovative approaches; and
- Share results and best practices across all sectors and with Canadians to support investment in the skills needed to be resilient in the face of change now and into the future.
The project team at Ryerson includes the Diversity Institute and Magnet (external link) . With deep expertise in disruptive technologies, adoption strategies, and innovation processes the Diversity Institute has developed new approaches to understanding future skills and meeting employer needs with a focus on removing barriers for women, racialized people, immigrants, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and others. Co-created by Ryerson and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Magnet is a social innovation platform addressing the unemployment and underemployment of Canadians. Magnet brings an extensive, technology enabled network of multi-sectoral partnerships to the Future Skills Centre with purpose-built digital infrastructure to grow and sustain a pan-Canadian network that will support Future Skills Centre initiatives.
The Future Skills Centre is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program. For more information on the Future Skills Centre, visit fsc-ccf.ca (external link) .
Ryerson University is Canada’s leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 45,300 students, including 2,600 Master’s and PhD students, 3,800 faculty and staff, and nearly 198,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.torontomu.ca.
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Lauren Clegg
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