The Future Skills Centre and RPL

CAPLA

The Future Skills Centre and RPL: a nexus linking current skills with the needs of tomorrow

Since its inception in 2019, the Future Skills Centre (FSC) has been engaged in innovation and applied research by “…contributing to a broader skills development ecosystem” (pg.4, FSC Strategic Plan).
The Centre has a focus on the present and future needs of the labour force, while at the same time, addressing and supporting programs for populations who are marginalized and underserved. It currently works with more than 200 research and innovative projects across Canada, building knowledge and evidence about what works for skills development.
Join CAPLA this fall to find out where the recognition of prior learning (RPL) fits into FSC’s vision, mission and work.
Tricia Williams, Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization at FSC has had a front row seat in listening, facilitating and influencing conversations across the skills ecosystem in Canada. In this session she will share ‘what she has heard’ about ‘skills recognition’ at FSC events and discussions, as well as reflect on the current challenges of how ‘skills recognition’ (PLAR/RPL) in Canada fits into the present and future work and mandate of FSC. In addition, Tricia will bring forward information as it relates to
	FSC-funded projects which directly or indirectly incorporate PLAR/RPL (advising and assessing underserved adults and new Canadians with prior learning) into their activities and outcomes (e.g. Materials Management at Mohawk College (ON); Information Technology at New Brunswick Community College (NB, MB); Micro-credentials at Humber College (ON); Career development programs for disadvantaged populations (Canadian Career Development Foundation – NS) Link here
	FSC’s evolving communities of practice
	Ideas about how the CAPLA community can contribute to the work of the FSC
	Consideration of how quality assurance strategies can be linked to skills recognition and assessment processes currently, and in the future
Following Tricia’s comments in the first hour, the second hour of the session will be dedicated to participants sharing their ideas and asking questions.
Background
The necessity to identify the current skills of Canadians and newcomers, while considering emerging labour market trends, appears to contribute to much of the work FSC undertakes and funds. Although the usual Canadian terms of recognition of prior learning (RPL) or prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) cannot be easily found on the FSC website (suggested filters do not list either term), nine results come up under Research and White papers when RPL is entered in the keyword search bar at fsc-ccf.ca/research/.
However make no mistake! ‘Skills recognition’ or ‘educational pathways’ factor heavily into the work of the FSC and embraces the notion that assessing and recognizing the existing knowledge, skills and abilities of Canadians matter a great deal to the decision-makers at FSC and their funders at ESDC.
In a March 2022 press item found on the FSC site entitled Using the Talents of Newcomers to Canada and written by Guang-Ying Mo and Patrick Mackenzie, the authors explain what is needed.
“Creating an environment to harness the talents of immigrants requires action on multiple levels, including the need to properly assess their skills and to streamline processes to remove barriers along the road to permanent residency.” 
Likewise, author Anqi Shen quotes Matthew McKean, former Director, Future Skills, Conference Board of Canada in the July 8, 2019 edition of University Affairs.
“I think the biggest challenge we have is the skills transfer – it applies both to the new grads looking to enter the workforce and the mid-career and older workers who need to transition, either by choice or because their work has been made redundant by AI or automation”. 
About the speaker

Tricia Willams
: Director of Research, Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilization, Future Skills Centre (FSC)

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The Future Skills Centre and RPL

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