Diversity Institute

📣 Last call to share your thoughts on how the #skills ecosystem can continue serving workers and employers in Canada. Involved in skills and workforce development? Assist Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures today by providing feedback and input in their 2024 market research survey! Survey closes tomorrow, December 17: 📝 https://lnkd.in/gDPrvgex

💡Canada excels in AI research but trails in adoption. Canada is renowned for its advancements in artificial intelligence (#AI), with global acclaim for researchers like Geoffrey Hinton, yet our ability to integrate these innovations into the workplace is poor. Only 35% of Canadian businesses use AI compared to 72% in the U.S. The numbers are even lower for small and medium-sized enterprises (#SMEs), which make up the majority of private-sector jobs. Our recently published report with Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures and The Environics Institute for Survey Research shed light on the landscape: 🔍 Many SMEs lack the resources, expertise and confidence to implement AI solutions. 🔍 Among employees using AI, 44% have received no formal training, raising risks around intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity. 🔍 Interestingly, the gender gap in workplace AI use is smaller than in other advanced technologies, and groups such as younger workers, racialized individuals and immigrants show greater familiarity with AI tools. 🔍 The emergence of generative AI— “the English major’s revenge, as our founder Wendy Cukier has coined”—further democratizes AI skills, which require excellent language and reasoning skills. The solution lies in bridging the divide between #innovation and adoption: ✅ Developing a competency framework for AI, underpinned by basic AI literacy skills for all sectors ✅ Supporting SMEs with targeted training and tools to help them adopt AI effectively. ✅ Empowering diverse teams to develop and implement AI responsibly. A Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures-supported initiative, the Skills Bridge program, developed by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Magnet, is already making strides, providing SMEs with resources to navigate AI adoption while creating employment pathways. However, much more must be done to address barriers and ensure equity in access to AI's transformative potential. Canada’s paradox—excelling in AI research but struggling with adoption—is a call to action. By working together, policymakers, industry leaders, educators and businesses can unlock the potential of AI to drive innovation while managing its risks. 💡 Ready to dive deeper? Explore our latest strategies for bridging Canada's AI adoption gap in the full article from Dr. Wendy Cukier: https://bit.ly/4gwvzfp #AI #Innovation #FutureOfWork #FutureSkills #DigitalTransformation #CanadaLeadership

We have partnered with the Diversity Institute, Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures and a network of municipalities to collect equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation (EDIR) frameworks and best practices from across Canada. As diversity within the Canadian population grows, many municipal governments strive to integrate EDIR into their strategies. This initiative aims to assist municipalities of all sizes, locations and stages of development to implement effective policies and practices. We are excited to invite municipal staff from across Canada who work in these areas to see the final stage of this project and help make the toolkit as useful and inclusive as possible. Register for next week's webinar to share your input: 📆 Dec. 17 🕐 1 - 2 p.m. EST https://lnkd.in/e-7-5fYy

🎓 “We’re seeing technology transform learning at all levels,” says Dr. Wendy Cukier, our founder and academic director and academic research director of the Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures, which aims to address gaps in digital skills, especially among Canada’s diverse populations. Canada is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence (#AI) into #education, reshaping how and where we learn. From personalized, adaptive learning to immersive virtual classrooms, AI-driven edtech unlocks new opportunities for learners of all ages. But with opportunity comes responsibility. Challenges like ensuring #equity in access, addressing ethical concerns and navigating the #digital divide remain critical. As policymakers, educators and innovators, we must work together to ensure no learner is left behind. As Cukier notes, “Everyone needs basic AI literacy." One example is DI's ADaPT (Advanced Digital and Professional Training) program. It helps diverse postsecondary school graduates from varied academic backgrounds learn tech skills while providing career support. “It doesn’t focus on engineers and computer scientists, it focuses on English majors and history grads,” Cukier says. In this latest The Globe and Mail article from Mary Gooderham, explore how #Canada is leading the charge in AI-enabled education and the issues shaping the future of learning: https://lnkd.in/gdTXu--h #AI #EdTech #Innovation #EducationTransformation

🚀 New report launch! For many Black and racialized youth in Canada, the path to their dream careers is filled with systemic roadblocks. Unequal access to #technology, limited #mentorship opportunities and insufficient career guidance are just a few challenges these youth face. First-generation immigrant families may also be unfamiliar with Canada’s educational and career systems, leaving their children without the support needed to navigate post-secondary education. To address these barriers, we collaborated with the Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures and the Peel District School Board to pilot the Future Skills & Careers (FSC) platform. This innovative tool provides mentorship programs, digital #skills training and career exploration resources to support under-served youth. Here’s what we learned: ▶ 70% of respondents reported that the platform helped them understand career paths. ▶ 83.8% agreed the purpose of the platform was clear. ▶ Feedback highlighted opportunities to enhance interactivity to engage users in self-assessment. Are you interested in education and workforce development? Our recent partner-led report shares key insights from the pilot project so far. Explore the full report: https://bit.ly/4fjs2jA #Diversity #Inclusion #SkillsTraining #training #youth #EDI

Yesterday, our founder and academic research director of Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures, Dr. Wendy Cukier, participated in the Delegation of the European Union to Canada Roundtable to celebrate #HumanRightsDay. 🔑 Key takeaways: ➡️ We are doing better than some countries in some areas but have a long way to go in others. Dr. Terjanian noted that we have fallen in the global rankings on gender equity, and Ms. Nepinak stressed that we have totally failed to meet our commitments to Indigenous peoples and Truth and Reconciliation. ➡️ An intersectional lens is key. Wage gaps have narrowed but persist for women overall but are far greater for women who are Black, Indigenous, persons with disabilities or who identify as 2SLGBTQi+. ➡️ Education is a driver of social mobility and we see many gaps narrowing. For example, Black Canadians have the same post-secondary graduation rates as others - but barriers to employment remain. ➡️ We cannot dichotomize human rights and economic imperatives. Commitment to human rights is the foundation on which everything else rests, including achieving our economic, innovation and sustainable development goals. ➡️ We need to look in the mirror and name the problems. Disaggregated data across equity-deserving groups helps us understand disparities and set goals. ➡️ We need accountability frameworks. While raising awareness is key and strategies are important, there remain gaps in terms of action and results. Despite 30 years of effort, there are fewer women in computer science and only slightly more in engineering today. ➡️ We must focus not just on representation and participation but also on true inclusion, co-creation and governance. "Nothing about us without us." ➡️ The opportunities for collaboration with the European Union are many - ranging from research collaborations to compare data to a better understanding of what works in what contexts that can be shared and replicated. Linking arms to stand firm on commitments to #HumanRights in the face of backlash and hate. ➡️ While targeted programs for women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, the 2SLGBTQi+ community and persons with disabilities are important, we need to bring a gender and diversity lens to all our work- research, innovation, trade, responsible AI, entrepreneurship, education, culture- this is critical. Thank you to moderator Dr. Anoush F. Terjanian (elle/she/ան), a fellow at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa; and the panellists Josie Nepinak, president, Native Women's Association of Canada; Myrlande Pierre, vice president, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse and Niha Shahzad, senior director of Strategic Initiatives & Programs, Canadian Center For Women's Empowerment (CCFWE) for a great discussion. We’re proud to be part of these critical conversations driving progress in #equity and #inclusion. #50_30Challenge #STEM #WomeninScience

We're very proud of our executive director, Mohamed A. E.!

⏰ The Skills Horizon Calls for Proposals deadline is tomorrow, December 13, at 5 p.m. ET! The Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures (FSC) has launched an open call for proposals that address Canada’s emerging labour market and skills challenges. FSC is accepting proposals through two calls: 💡 The Skills Solutions call will fund projects focusing on solution design and preparing for potential piloting or advancing skills initiatives based on evidence of what has worked. 💡 The Skills Research call will explore key knowledge gaps or emerging challenges shaping Canada’s labour market. 🔗 Don't wait, learn more and apply today: https://lnkd.in/ghYdjaWn #FutureSkills #FutureOfWork

💡 2024’s standout career development reports: Insights shaping the future In 2024, career development professionals navigated an evolving landscape, with groundbreaking research illuminating the way. From the influence of AI on the job market to inclusive career pathways, these reports provided vital knowledge for shaping strategies. Among them, two pivotal studies from CERIC stood out: 1️⃣ Career Development in 2040 – A forward-looking exploration of how the profession may evolve, with actionable insights for long-term planning. Creative Futures Studio 2️⃣ Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent – An unprecedented mapping of Canada’s career development sector, offering a comprehensive view of the services empowering Canadians.Challenge Factory CCDF-FCDC Other notable highlights include: • AI & Skills Demand (OECD - OCDE): Insights on how AI reshapes non-technical roles. • Equitable Rebound (ICTC-CTIC): Strategies to foster career mobility post-pandemic. • Young Canadians’ Employment Realities (University of Waterloo): Findings on work preferences and barriers among youth. See the full list of reports and learn how they’re shaping the future of work: https://bit.ly/3Zwyqhv First Work Diversity Institute Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures Egale Canada Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) | Conseil de l'information sur le marché du travail (CIMT) Deloitte - 👉 Stay ahead in 2025: Subscribe to CareerWise Weekly for research, trends, and tools tailored to your career development needs: https://lnkd.in/gus8UiV2 #CareerDevelopment #AI #InclusiveWorkplaces #FutureOfWork

💡 Have your say in shaping the future of #skills and workforce development! The Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures is conducting its market research survey, Skills & Impact: Your Voice 2024 Survey, to hear from diverse members in the skills development community Your insights will help map out how the sector can adapt and grow to meet future demands while guiding their efforts to support the next generation of skills solutions. 💻 Complete the survey now: https://lnkd.in/gDPrvgex