We’re looking back at the biggest items of 2021 and what it means for the year ahead.

1. Pandemic work life, skills, and the Great Resignation

The labour market will never be the same after COVID, and so, how we conceive of training and skills must follow suit. In the midst of what some have called the Great Resignation, workers are revaluating their priorities, and for many that means a change in employment.

Inevitably, skills are on the agenda: future skills, essential skills, Skills for Success, green skills, intercultural skills – What does it mean to be highly skilled in a market in near constant flux?  

We’re betting on microcredentials and hybrid learning models as the emerging go-to methods for flexible and accessible upskilling. Our new national framework and guiding principles on the subject will help educators develop microcredentials that meet high quality standards.

• From members, we’ve seen a COVID-19 nasal swab microcredential at Red River College Polytechnic, mass timber construction at BCIT, a suite of microcredentials in clean energy and efficient buildings from Camosun College, municipal risk management at Conestoga College, and a joint microcredential in digital technologies from Cégep de Sainte-Foy and Cégep de Chicoutimi to name a few!
• We launched the Supportive Care Assistant program: a new fully-subsidized micro-certificate developed to quickly address acute labour shortages in the long-term care sector. 14 CICan members are currently delivering the program across the country (and there is still time to become a delivery partner)!

2. Reconciliation and residential schools

As Canada’s colonial history and the legacy of residential schools makes headlines around the world, we need to ensure that truth and reconciliation efforts continue. The work to uncover all the Indigenous children lost to residential schools is just getting started.

• As the national association representing colleges and institutes, we pledged to connect Indigenous communities with the resources available at their local institution: If you are a member of a First Nations, Métis, or Inuit community looking for technical expertise to search or map sites of former residential schools, contact us and we will connect you with your local institution.

Education remains vital to preserving and strengthening Indigenous communities now and in the future.

• Formalize your commitment to Indigenous education: Over 65 member institutions have committed to making Indigenous education a priority, strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities, and supporting reconciliation through our Indigenous Education Protocol.
• And don’t miss Perspectives LIVE: “Indigenous rights are human rights!” Episode 3 airs December 15. Are our collective efforts at reconciliation just lip service? And where do human rights, Indigenous rights, and our recovery efforts intersect?

3. Globalism, borders, and student mobility

Study and work abroad programs ensure students are culturally literate, resilient, adaptable, and ready to succeed in a global marketplace. But that becomes markedly more difficult when they can’t leave the country.

• In March, we asked members to propose mobility-focused innovation projects and provided funding to 47 colleges and institutes to implement 69 projects!
• Now, the long-anticipated Global Skills Opportunity is officially here. More than 16,000 Canadian students – especially those for whom international learning experiences have traditionally been less accessible – will acquire the global skills employers want and the Canadian economy needs.

Immigrants are another important talent pool for Canada. If Canadians can expect to welcome over 400,000 new permanent residents in 2022, we need an audacious plan to ensure that those coming to start a new life in Canada have the resources and support they need to realize their aspirations. Our latest paper offers recommendations.

Border closures and travel continue to impact international students arriving in Canada, and we continue to work with government to ensure that the needs of international students are being heard. See all our updates related to international students arriving in Canada, post-graduation work permits, and study permit processing online.

4. Climate, sustainability, and the race to net-zero

As devastating flooding and record amounts of rainfall continue on the west coast, we are seeing the very real effects of climate change. We need to get serious about reducing emissions, in a big way, now.

• Canada needs leadership and colleges and institutes are stepping up. At more than 670 locations, we pledged to achieve net-zero emissions on campus by 2050!
• It’s an ambitious goal, but not out of reach. In fact, many examples of net-zero and LEED-certified campus facilities, learning environments, and research centres already exist!
• And, our new Impact-Climate initiative will raise awareness among colleges and institutes and enhance engagement to reduce their environmental footprint.

Watch: “Are we moving the needle on climate change?” Last month on Perspectives LIVE, we looked at the reality of climate change and the race to net-zero. Is it a race we can win? 

5. Recovery, equity, and innovation

The latest OECD Economic Outlook report is optimistic that recovery from COVID-19 will continue despite concerns over the new variant, but warns that unequal access to vaccines could leave some countries behind. While we plan for recovery, we also need to ensure that structures are in place to reduce inequalities.

On economic recovery, we know that each year, more and more Canadian businesses and community organizations of all sizes (in all areas of the country) benefit from college and institute applied research to find real solutions to real problems.

• The latest data from our annual survey on applied research points to growth in all directions: more projects, more partnerships, more solutions, more students, and more dollars. This will prove critical in the coming year!

We’re also serious about equity, diversity, and inclusion, not only as an ethical and moral responsibility, but also as necessary for sustainable recovery. You can expect more from our new ImpAct-EDI iniative in the coming year!

6. 50 years young!

Last but not least, in 2022, we have a special year of surprises coming your way. We’re turning 50 and taking the opportunity to look back at some of the key highlights in our history and asking some old friends and experts to share their thoughts for the future!

For now, take some time to rest and reset – you’ve earned it – and we’ll see you in the new year!