Fanshawe joins new skilled labour initiative

Fanshawe College joins skilled labour initiative to boost opportunities for students and benefit employers

FANSHAWE COLLEGE HAS announced it is joining forces with six post-secondary institutions across the province on a new training project that will open doors to learning opportunities and establish a talent pipeline for the automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The Drive Ability – Opening Doors Program, led by George Brown College, will create up to 600 work-integrated learning opportunities for students, apprentices and new graduates from a wide variety of business, technology and engineering programs in an effort to address talent shortages and support the long-term health of the economy.

Under the agreement, Fanshawe’s Career Employment Services departments in London, Simcoe, St. Thomas and Woodstock will secure 86 paid work opportunities with local employers. Placements will be a minimum of 10 weeks in length. Current students will be able to count Drive Ability work experience towards their program placement requirements.

“This is a welcome opportunity to provide more hands-on experiences, build stronger partnerships with employers to ensure alignment between education and the skill requirements of the sector and share best practices of work-integrated learning between partner institutions,” says Darlene O’Neill, director of Fanshawe’s Employment and Student Entrepreneurial Services department.

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Drive Ability – Opening Doors is one of 11 programs included in a $9.3 million investment by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development through the Career Ready Fund’s Auto Stream to help students and job seekers prepare for auto and advanced manufacturing careers and support Ontario’s COVID-19 economic recovery.

The other post-secondary institutions involved in the project are Conestoga College, Mohawk College, Sheridan College, Georgian College and York University. The project will run through the end of March 2021.