BioTalent Canada is pleased to announce that several leading Canadian post-secondary institutions are adopting its Essential and Technical Skills Fundamentals courses and offering them to their students.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed between BioTalent Canada and the University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo, University of Manitoba, University of Calgary, Carleton University, and Loyalist College.

Going forward, these education centres will make the Essential and Technical Skills Fundamentals courses available to students through a fully bilingual online learning platform.

“That these universities have agreed to offer our skills courses is a great vote of confidence in the training we have developed,” says Rob Henderson, President and CEO of BioTalent Canada. “Completion of these courses will help ensure people have the skills bio-economy employers value and need to effectively run their businesses.”

Canada’s bio-economy is likely to require 65,000 additional workers by 2029, but employers may be able to fill only a quarter (25%) of the needed positions due to a lack of skills among Canadian workers. Specifically, employers report that candidates lack soft skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and business development.

BioTalent Canada developed the Essential and Technical Skills Fundamentals courses after research revealed that more than half of Canadian employers in the biotechnology space were experiencing skills deficiencies among staff.

The Essential and Technical Skills Fundamentals courses seeks to bridge the gap by including important educational training in areas such as scientific report writing, laboratory practices, and quality control. Students also improve their communication and problem-solving skills through the courses offered via the online platform. According to BioTalent Canada’s recent national report Close-up on the Bio-economy, employers rated communication skills (75%) and problem-solving skills (86%) as very important.

“Biotechnology is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Canadian and global economies, and students need to be prepared to fill key positions in this critical area,” says Henderson. “The courses provided through BioTalent Canada will give students the fundamentals required for success.”

Once courses are completed, students receive a “BioReady^TM” certificate that demonstrates they are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for a career in the biotech industry.

BioTalent Canada is providing each of the universities that signed its MOU with unlimited access to its suite of online courses for use by their students.

About BioTalent Canada

BioTalent Canada supports the people behind life-changing science. Trusted as the go-to source for labour market intelligence, BioTalent Canada guides bio-economy stakeholders with evidence-based data and industry-driven standards. BioTalent Canada is focused on igniting the industry’s brainpower, bridging the gap between job-ready talent and employers, and ensuring the long-term agility, resiliency, and sustainability of one of Canada’s most vital sectors.

Recently named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada with under 50 employees, a Best Workplaces™ for Mental Wellness, Healthcare, and a Great Place to Work® for 2022, BioTalent Canada practices the same industry standards it recommends to stakeholders. These distinctions were awarded to BioTalent Canada following a thorough and independent survey analysis conducted by Great Place to Work®.

For more information, please visit biotalent.ca.

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