Microsoft extends skilling program to eight
new institutions across Canada,
enabling more students to graduate with in-demand data analytics,
AI and cloud certifications
TORONTO, March 23, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Microsoft Canada
announced the addition of eight post-secondary institutions to the
Canada Skills Program, bringing the total to 20 schools in six
provinces across Canada.
Launched last fall, the program allows students to acquire
in-demand cloud, data and AI skills and Microsoft certifications
alongside their institutions' credentials, enhancing their
employability as they enter the job market. In the first six
months, over 20,000 students have participated.
New data from the Information and Communication Technology
Council of Canada (ICTC) found
that 50 percent of all information technology (IT) departments of
companies surveyed in North
America currently identified as either short-staffed or
understaffed in ICT roles and the innovation economy
is expected to create an additional 149 million new jobs by
2025. For Canada to take advantage
of this opportunity, we must address the persistent challenge of
the tech talent pipeline.
The Canada Skills Program aims to address this challenge and
will support a minimum of 2,000 additional students in diploma,
degree and continuing education programs across Canada by enabling them to graduate with
in-demand data analytics, AI and cloud certifications.
"Microsoft continues to invest in skilling initiatives because
building a talent pipeline equipped with cloud, data and AI skills
is key to strengthening Canada's
innovation economy," said Kevin
Peesker, President, Microsoft Canada. "The pandemic has made
these needs more acute than ever and expanding the Canada Skills
Program means even more students will start their careers with the
fundamentals they need to land meaningful work and drive
accelerated innovation for Canada."
The eight post-secondary institutions added to the Canada Skills
Program include:
- New Brunswick Community College
(New Brunswick)
- Georgian College (Ontario)
- Collège La Cité (Ontario)
- McMaster University, DeGroote
School of Business (Ontario)
- University of Toronto, School of
Continuing Studies (Ontario)
- University of Waterloo
(Ontario)
- LaSalle College Vancouver
(British Columbia)
- Red River College (Manitoba)
This expansion of the Canada Skills Program is the latest in
Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enabling greater access to
digital skills and providing students with the tools they need to
support the Canadian economy as it emerges from the challenges
caused by COVID-19.
Other recent announcements from Microsoft include:
- a global skilling announcement providing free access to online
training tools from Microsoft, LinkedIn and GitHub,
- a collaboration with the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute
(Amii) to provide scholarships for learners from marginalized
communities,
- free accelerated Azure Fundamentals workshops facilitated
through Seneca College, in
collaboration with RBC, and
- Microsoft is partnering with the Digital Technology
Supercluster, Npower Canada and Blueprint to provide skills
training to unemployed and underemployed youth from communities
underrepresented in the digital economy.
QUOTE BANK
"The University of Waterloo is
delighted to collaborate with Microsoft in this program. This
collaboration strengthens our ongoing connections with Microsoft
and bolsters our country's ability to match students' talent and
skills with industry opportunities."
- Norah McRae, Associate
Provost, Co-operative and Experiential Education, University of Waterloo
"The acceleration of automation and digitalization over the past
12 months in response to the COVID-19 pandemic puts new emphasis on
the importance of skills in cloud computing, data analytics, and
artificial intelligence, certifications offered by the Canada
Skills Program. The partnership between NBCC and Microsoft Canada
will equip more people with the skills security to thrive in a
changing world of work."
- Mary Butler, President and
CEO, New Brunswick Community
College
"The University of Toronto School of
Continuing Studies (SCS) is pleased to work with the Canada Skills
Program and Microsoft Canada. It is a collaboration that aligns
with our commitment to help meet the challenges faced by our
learners associated with a world and workforce that is changing
rapidly. At the same time, Microsoft certifications closely
complement our own in-demand courses and certificates in the areas
of cloud computing, AI, data science, and cyber security. This
collaboration will help learners of all ages and career stages to
continue to build relevant skills and gain the confidence needed to
participate in, adapt to, and provide leadership in the changing,
digital workplace for years to come."
- Dr. Maureen MacDonald, Dean,
University of Toronto, School of
Continuing Studies
"At DeGroote, we are focused on developing leaders who thrive on
digital transformation. Our collaboration with Microsoft Canada and
the Canada Skills Program will expand our students' digital
skills, particularly in critical areas such as data analytics, AI,
and cloud technologies, and help prepare them to drive Canada's post-pandemic recovery."
- Khaled Hassanein, Associate
Dean, Graduate Studies and Research, DeGroote School of
Business
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft
Canada Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation
(Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and
solutions that help people and businesses realize their full
potential. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing,
consulting and local support services in both French and English.
For more information on Microsoft Canada, please visit
www.microsoft.ca.
SOURCE Microsoft Canada Inc.