Eastern Ontario universities, college & municipalities partner to develop region’s workforce
MEDIA RELEASE FROM CARLETON UNIVERSITY:
New collaboration focuses on training, on-line education and the innovation economy
A new collaboration between the presidents of five universities and four colleges together with municipal and economic development leaders, will focus a spotlight on educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in the municipal administration and community services sector.
“Through the Eastern Ontario Task Force, we want to build on the strengths and address the challenges faced by Eastern Ontario communities,” said Carleton President Roseann O’Reilly Runte.”
The Task Force is developing a Workforce Development Strategy and is engaged with municipal and community services as they prepare for a major generational change in the Eastern Ontario labour force. Dr. Runte emphasized that the post-secondary sector wants to be part of the solution to drive the innovation economy in Eastern Ontario.
The Workforce Development Strategy combines the efforts of nine educational institutions working with economic development agencies and municipal partners. The initiative, led by Carleton University in collaboration with Ontario East Economic Development, includes:
- Algonquin College
- Collège La Cité
- Fleming College
- Loyalist College
- University of Ottawa
- Queen’s University
- Lawrence College
- Trent University
Together, the institutions will offer hundreds of on-line courses especially relevant to individuals developing careers in the municipal or community services sector.
The Task Force’s work is also supported by the:
- Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus
- Eastern Ontario Leadership Council
- Eastern Ontario Mayor’s Committee
- Eastern Ontario Regional Network
Eastern Ontario’s post-secondary institutions have a major impact on the region’s economy, employing more than 29,000 full- and part-time employees, with purchases of goods and services exceeding $500 million a year and operating expenditures totalling $2.4 billion. This is above and beyond the positive impacts of each school’s research and continuous education of the region’s workforce.
It is estimated that there are nearly 300,000 municipal employees in the Province of Ontario, with Eastern Ontario’s municipalities employing approximately 20,000. Conservative estimates indicate that 35 per cent of municipal employees are expected to retire in the next five to seven years.
On-line course information available through the Eastern Ontario Task Force portal can be found at:
For more information contact:
Steven Reid, Media Relations Officer, Carleton University
(613) 520-2600, ext. 8718
Dan Borowec, President, Ontario East Economic Development Corporation
(905)-372-3329 ext 6296
borowecd@northumberlandcounty.ca