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Dean Jane Goodyer sitting on a chair in York University

Innovative post-secondary solutions will help solve Canada’s tech-sector skills shortage

Canada is facing a digital skills shortage that, if left unaddressed, will present a major barrier to business growth across all sectors and industries. As corporate leaders continue facing difficulties recruiting and retaining tech talent, universities in Canada can play a vital role in leading the development and implementation of innovative post-secondary solutions that address existing human resources gaps.

Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the skills shortage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields has grown exponentially over the last few years. If our tech companies are to remain competitive in a constantly evolving global digital economy, we must act quickly to respond to existing information and communications technology (ICT) skills gaps or risk falling behind. This means that our efforts to attract talent and upskill the current workforce must keep a pulse on the evolving needs and demands of the sector.

For Canada, scaling up the tech workforce means creating affordable education pathways that will facilitate increased access to digital tech careers. Although Canada has a wealth of untapped tech talent potential, expanding the existing talent pool will require taking bold steps to transform the future of learning and employment in Canada’s tech sector.

It was with this goal in mind that our team at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering collaborated with key leaders and experts in the tech sector to create a new work-integrated Bachelor of Applied Science in Digital Technologies program. These partners include Ceridian, CGI, Cinchy Inc., Cisco Canada, Connected, EY Canada, General Motors of Canada Company, IBM Canada, mimik Technology Inc., RBC, Saa Dene Group, Shopify Inc., TELUS Health, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and TribalScale Inc.

Check out lassonde.yorku.ca/digitaltech to learn more. Employers can also email hire@lassonde.yorku.ca for information on student recruitment, which starts January 2023.

Full Article: quoimedia.com