A report released Tuesday by the Business Council of Alberta (BCA) proposes solutions to make Alberta the place where the brightest minds come together and solve the world’s biggest challenges.
“Alberta is the place where talented people should work together to create new opportunities and solve the toughest problems,” said Dawn Farrell, a member of the Business Council of Alberta and chair of the Task Force on Future Training & Skills, in a news release.
“Integrating learning with work experiences, developing micro-credentialing and promoting lifelong learning in business cultures that, at their core, are inclusive and transparent will ensure we attract the best and the brightest to our province.”
The report, Skilled by Design: A Blueprint for Alberta’s Future Workforce, was developed by BCA’s inaugural Task Force. The Task Force on Future Training & Skills included CEOs and senior business leaders from across the province. The report offers businesses, governments and post-secondary institutions over 50 actionable and strategic recommendations in three broad focus areas, said BCA:
- Building a Better Alberta—Alberta is an attractive place to live and work, and is seen as inclusive, open and welcoming.
- Creating a Culture of Lifelong Learning—Alberta maintains a highly employable, competitive and flexible workforce by enabling an environment for skill development.
- Expanding Experience-Based Training—Alberta develops well-prepared, highly skilled and confident workers by going beyond the classroom to provide real-world experience.
Read the full report at https://www.businesscouncilab.com/
“Alberta has long been a place where if you had a good idea and were willing to work hard, you could find opportunity here, but that image has been impacted in recent years,” said Mike Holden, Vice President, Policy & Chief Economist at the Business Council of Alberta. “The economic reset that we are experiencing is an opportunity for us to restore that reputation and build our workforce with intention. This report lays out a blueprint to create a workforce that could prove to be the most employable, adaptable and resilient in the country.”
“Micro-credentialing and scalable assessments are powerful tools to validate a person’s competency of specific skills and knowledge,” said Laura Jo Gunter, President & CEO, Bow Valley College. “Micro-credentials, when implemented correctly, are fast to complete, standardized, stackable and focused on the skills Albertans need to meet labour market demands. Alberta is already a leading innovator in this area, through initiatives like Bow Valley College’s nationally recognized Pivot-Ed project.”
