“We no longer live in a world where people work in the same profession for 40 years and retire with a golden watch,” said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “We know that Ontario workers will change careers and professions multiple times over the course of their lives and that is why we are providing more training options that will rapidly prepare people for good jobs.”
Postsecondary institutions will have eight weeks to submit proposals for funding under the Ontario Micro-Credentials Challenge Fund. Successful applicants will be notified by Summer 2021, and each institution and their partners will have until December 2021 to begin enrolment.
“Universities and colleges connect the dots of Ontario’s resilient economy by training sought-after graduates, future-proofing workers and offering relevant training opportunities that impact their local and regional communities,” said Minister Romano. “Today, we are making good on our promise to create more industry-relevant training opportunities for Ontarians.”
Additional incentives will be available for postsecondary institutions with the best proposals in their provincial regions. Institutions that demonstrate success in enhancing community partnerships, driving economic recovery and increasing job growth will be eligible for an award of up to $1 million.
This announcement is part of the Government’s three-year $59.5 million micro-credentials strategy and builds on the recent announcement to provide financial support to students accessing hundreds of micro-credentials through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
