‘We are an important talent pipeline’
Polytechnics will be vital as the Canadian workforce ages
Canada’s polytechnics — including SAIT in Calgary and NAIT in Edmonton — are taking a bold approach to post-secondary learning by focusing on experiential education that is hands-on and practical. Programs on offer are industry-driven to help students develop critical workplace skills through work-integrated learning opportunities.
Based in Ottawa, Sarah Watts-rynard is CEO of Polytechnics Canada. Wattsrynard has spent most of her career in leadership roles in the non-profit sector, including eight years with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum.
Polytechnics Canada is a non-profit association that represents 13 publicly funded polytechnics, colleges and institutes of technology in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. According to the association, 94,500 students graduated from one of Canada’s 13 polytechnics in 2020 with a degree, diploma or certificate.
“At Polytechnics Canada, we ask ‘what is the federal government trying to achieve and how are polytechnics positioned to support solutions in those areas?’ Polytechnics can be truly responsive, teaching skills that are immediately applicable, such as green technology, cybersecurity, nursing and technicians,” says Watts-rynard.
In what ways do polytechnics differ from other post-secondary institutions, such as universities? Polytechnics are known to take the lead in innovation and to experiment with new ways to deliver training. Watts-rynard describes how these differences give students an advantage in the 2022 workforce, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic has sped up technological change in most sectors.
“We are an important talent pipeline. Polytechnics produce confident and competent graduates. They produce workers who have been on the frontline of the pandemic — especially skilled trades and health-care workers. We have not found it to be the case that there is a decrease in interest in nursing or other healthcare professions.”
The pandemic has led to hybrid models of teaching, however, she points out that this is “not a great time to put students in clinical placements.”
Watts-rynard says that enrolment in skilled trades is “procyclical.” This means that there is a positive correlation with the overall state of the economy, with apprenticeships rising “when times are good.”
However, this is complicated by demographics and Canada’s aging population. The end result is that skilled trades are indemand during less certain times.
According to a report by RBC entitled Powering Up: Preparing Canada’s skilled trades for a post-pandemic economy, more than 700,000 skilled tradespeople are expected to retire by 2028. With a government stimulus-fuelled infrastructure renewal, Powering Up says that “the most severe shortages will be among trades critical to the coming infrastructure boom, including industrial mechanics, welders and boilermakers.”
As well, Canada can expect a boom in the green economy and environmental projects. Polytechnics Canada is committed to supporting the green economy and teaching the skills necessary for small businesses to strive toward a net-zero future.
Polytechnics produce confident and competent graduates.
– Sarah Watts-rynard, CEO of Polytechnics Canada