Learning outcomes of Humber’s certificate and diploma programs meet or surpass ministry requirements, allowing graduates to transition seamlessly into apprenticeships.Supplied
As Ontario pushes forward with ambitious housing and infrastructure goals, the province is facing a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople. According to BuildForce Canada, Ontario needs 100,000 construction workers by 2030, and the shortfall extends to welders, electricians, plumbers and mechanics. Humber Polytechnic’s Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology is addressing this workforce crisis through adaptive, industry-driven education, says Michael Auchincloss, associate dean and centre principal.
With a long legacy and leadership in skilled trades education, “Humber Polytechnic is at the forefront of preparing the next generation of workers through a dual focus on post-secondary programs and apprenticeship training,” says Mr. Auchincloss. “As technology and the work environment change, we have to be able to shift to meet industry’s needs.”
The polytechnic – offering programs and training in plumbing, carpentry, electrical, welding, industrial woodworking and construction – works with program advisory committees (PACs) to stay responsive to industry needs, he explains. This collaboration builds industry confidence when it comes to hiring Humber graduates, who have benefited from Humber’s strategy of “front-end loading” industry-required skills.
Humber will be introducing six new programs in the fall of 2026, “shaped by industry input to reflect emerging technologies,” he says. Similar to other Humber programs, learning is based on honing hands-on, jobs-ready skills through learning pathways that lead to industry readiness.
Learning outcomes of Humber’s certificate and diploma programs “meet or surpass” ministry [requirements], allowing graduates to transition seamlessly into apprenticeships, says Mr. Auchincloss. This reduces the time and cost burden for employers, with students entering the workforce already equipped with essential theory and practical experience.
Micro-credentials and continuous professional learning programs help Humber respond rapidly to emerging technologies and industry skill gaps, says Mr. Auchincloss, who cites the example of a program that emerged from Humber’s partnership with Magna, a leading automotive supplier.
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As technology advances, robots are increasingly used in welding, he explains. “You have technicians who can operate the robots but don’t understand welding, and welders who can weld but not program robots,” says Mr. Auchincloss. “Industry turned to us to bridge that gap. By combining theoretical and hands-on training, we’ve graduated welders with the added skill of robotic programming, an advantage that will serve them well into the future and give them a competitive edge.”
Humber’s “universal design for learning” approach means that the polytechnic emphasizes flexible curriculum and teaching materials to maximize learning opportunities for all students.
“Today’s students have a different way of learning” thanks to the allure of new media and technologies, notes Mr. Auchincloss. Humber accommodates this through the use of digital tools, instructional videos and team-based interactive activities to engage diverse learners. Added professionalism and ethics training “help students gain knowledge about expectations and realities in the workforce.”
Reflecting the growing recognition of the rewarding careers in the skilled trades, enrolment in the skilled trades programs at Humber is up, with waitlists across many programs.
Ultimately, the institution is ensuring its graduates acquire a skill set that will help contribute to lifelong employability, says Mr. Auchincloss. “It’s all about adaptability and lifelong learning. Humber Polytechnic is developing learners who can continually build new knowledge as they encounter emerging technologies and evolving work environments.”
Advertising feature produced by Randall Anthony Communications. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.