New Report – Indigenous-Led E-Learning and Enabling Technologies: A Scan of Programs in Canada

Yesterday I posted an entry entitled 📰 A Year in Perspective, and one of the things in that entry was a reference to this report.

Indigenous-Led E-Learning and Enabling Technologies

A Scan of Programs in Canada

By Faun Rice , Noah Lubendo , Trevor Quan , Mansharn Toor  December 18, 2023

Summary

Education of all forms has long been offered at a distance via technology. However, it has never seemed so important to develop the infrastructure and capacity to offer online, distance, and electronic learning as it did during the last four years. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) was working on two studies in which interviewees highlighted the extreme barriers to e-learning access faced by students living in Indigenous communities: one focused on e-learning across the country and the other on Indigenous Leadership in Technology in British Columbia. Both of these reports told a story of inequities caused by gaps in affordable broadband internet in the home, as well as lack of access to hardware.

Nevertheless, there are many Indigenous learning professionals in both secondary and post-secondary education who are pursuing innovative projects to improve digital equity and Indigenize learning with technology. Many of these initiatives have been in existence since long before the COVID-19 pandemic, created to generate access to secondary education and other training programs not available in many communities or to preserve language and culture. This article highlights Indigenous-led e-learning programs, outlining the need for and the significance of Indigenous-led digital learning. It provides examples of programs that managed to navigate through the pandemic and continue to offer muchneeded distance education to Indigenous learners.

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📰 A Year in Perspective

This item may be of interest to my Canadian readers (note the e-learning report below).

January 2024 | Subscribe ­ ­ ­ A Year in Perspective and a Look Forward to 2024 A Message from Our President & CEO   As we start the new year, I would like to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve embarked upon together over the past year while also exploring new prospects in 2024. It is with great pleasure and gratitude that I share with you the strides that ICTC has made in research, policy, and capacity-building programming to advance Canada’s digital advantage in a global context.   Last year, ICTC continued to expand its offerings to address the structural transformation of Canada’s economy. On the research and policy front, our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge had borne fruit in 2023. We expanded the understanding of critical issues while reshaping the narrative on current assumptions and fostering a conducive environment for industrial growth and sustainability.   In the capacity-building arena, investing in talent has always been a cornerstone of our vision for Canada’s economy, and last year was no exception. Our capacity-building programs have empowered individuals from all walks of life and every stage of their careers—from emerging professionals and newcomers to seasoned experts—to seek rewarding employment prospects. Our communications efforts were also at the forefront of our activities, enabling greater engagement with our stakeholders and partners while constructing vital synergies to advance important agendas for Canada.   I would like to extend a special thank you to all our partners and stakeholders for their valuable support and trust in our mandate, to our board members for their insights and guidance, and to our very talented staff for their remarkable ingenuity and passion for advancing important goals for Canada.   I wish you all a very healthy and prosperous 2024.   Sincerely, Namir Anani, ICTC President and CEO   Read the full article! Lire l’article complet en français! ­ Read the Full Article ­ ­ ­ ­ Indigenous-Led E-Learning and Enabling Technologies A Scan of Programs in Canada Our latest report provides a detailed context for Indigenous e-learning and an overview of Indigenous-led e-learning programs that are filling important gaps in secondary education and helping to preserve language and culture within Indigenous communities.     Lire le rapport en français The Impact of Digital Technologies on Quality of Work in Canada What impact does technology have on the quality of work, particularly for equity-seeking communities over-represented in novel forms of alternative employment like gig work and the sharing economy? This report investigates trends in the quality of work in Canada’s digital economy. ­ ­ ­

Policy Updates

Statistics Canada Updates Population Growth, Labour Market Data Canada’s population grew by 430,635 people or 1.1% during the third quarter of 2023, which is the highest growth rate recorded for a single quarter since 1957. Among the provinces and territories, Alberta recorded both the highest rate of population growth (+1.3%) and the greatest number of net interprovincial migrants (+17,094). Notably, all other provinces and territories except New Brunswick recorded a net loss in interprovincial migration. Population growth outpaced employment growth slightly during the third quarter of 2023, causing Canada’s unemployment rate to rise slightly to 5.8% and the employment rate to fall slightly to 61.8%. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed people per job vacancy increased to 1.7, signalling a slight ease in labour market tightness and competition at the national level. Still, recruitment of skilled employees was reported by businesses as the most common labour challenge in Q4. Government of Canada Establishes National Supply Chain Office The Government of Canada has established a National Supply Chain Office to help increase the efficiency and resiliency of Canada’s supply chains. Using allocated funds in Budget 2023, the Office will develop and implement a National Supply Chain Strategy, help the federal government respond to supply chain disruptions, support data sharing between supply chain actors, and help coordinate provincial, territorial, and global supply chains. International Energy Agency Publishes Guidance on How to Create Sustainable Critical Minerals Supply Chains Expanding critical minerals supply chains without the appropriate guardrails could negatively impact water security, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and human rights. The IEA published a policy brief in December 2023 outlining five recommendations for policymakers to help make critical minerals supply chains more sustainable and responsible. The recommendations include ensuring robust legal and regulatory protections; using public spending to encourage best practice development and adoption; strengthening granular and standardized data collection to track the adoption of environmental best practices; encouraging or requiring companies to improve supply chain transparency through reporting; and supporting the development of credible standards for sustainability. ­ ­ ­ Elevating Tech Talent

Keep Growing with Youth Boost! ICTC has partnered with Magnet on the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to support the delivery of Youth Boost, foster career development, and help eligible employers connect with young talent. Encourage youth to create a free Youth Boost account today! Youth Boost helps job seekers build the digital and human skills they need to succeed in the current job market. Your free account gives you access to ICTC’s Agile Industry Mindset (AIM) and Digital Transformation courses, learning labs, resources, and courses from Magnet and partners. These offerings have been developed to help you understand and build the skills demanded by employers across different industries. Youth Boost will also connect users to paid placements offered through the Canadian Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) Boost Your Business Technology Grant, funded by the Government of Canada. ­ Enroll Today! ­

CyberTitan VII: Securing the Skies – May 8-9, 2024 It’s time to take flight! Our top Canadian CyberTitan teams will defend the cybersecurity of a regional airport. Their mission: identify and mitigate cyberthreats to safeguard passengers and airport operations. Our Cyber Titan teams are on the frontlines to assess, fortify, secure, and recover compromised systems. Buckle up, teams. It’s time to secure the skies! Our partners help us provide middle and secondary school students with hands-on learning to develop the critical digital skills needed to succeed in STEM careers. Learn how you can partner with us for this year’s CyberTitan initiative. ­ Learn More! ­

Empowering Success in Fall Term WIL e-Learning The fall term of the WIL e-Learning program concluded with a total of 18 courses on offer, including the new Digital Transformation micro-credential. Jessica Malik (University of Windsor) shared, “I took two WIL Digital e-learning (courses) in which I got to learn and practice so many new and interesting things related to the courses! The instructors are very knowledgeable and understanding. They will help you out in every aspect.”   The Winter cohort is now open for registration. Sign-up today! ­ Register Today! ­

New Year, New Cybersecurity Solutions! The Cybersecurity Training and WIL program is underway for its second year, with students across six major cities! Program graduate Tyra Aumentado (Toronto Metropolitan University) shared, “Being a participant of the Cybersecurity Training and WIL Program has propelled not only my professional career but also my passion and interest in cybersecurity. Breaking into the technology industry and building a career can be daunting and challenging, especially for a woman of colour such as myself, with minimal technical background and little to no IT-related work experience. ICTC eliminated many of the barriers of entry that women my age and level of experience often face when pursuing a career in tech.” Eligible employers receive up to $7000 in WIL Digital funding to hire a cybersecurity program student.  Reach out to us directly at cybersecuritytrainingandwil@ictc-ctic.ca to hire a subsidized student in 2024! ­ Contact Us! ­

­ ­ ­ Events Against a backdrop of macroeconomic shifts, technological disruption, changing labour markets, and more, our president and CEO, Namir Anani, moderated our organized panel “Future Proofing Canada’s Economy: The Case for a Sustainable Industrial Strategy” on November 15 at the 2023 Canadian Science Policy Conference.   If you missed the panel, Namir sat down with CSPC for a recorded interview, sharing his insights on the economy, advanced technologies, and skills in an increasingly global and competitive landscape.   Watch it here. ­ ­ We’re Hiring ­ ­ Send Us Your Feedback ­ Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) 275 Slater Street, Suite 802, K1P 5H9, Ottawa ­ ­ ­ Subscribe | Unsubscribe We acknowledge that our main office in Ottawa, Ontario is situated on un-ceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory. Nous reconnaissons que notre bureau principal à Ottawa en Ontario se trouve sur un territoire non cédé des Algonquins Anishinabe.

❄️Happy Holidays from ICTC | Le CTIC vous souhaite de joyeuses fêtes

A final seasons greeting for today…

From the ICTC team, we wish you a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year! We hope that you enjoy spending time with your loved ones and sincerely appreciate your continued support as we work to advance Canada’s digital advantage in a global context.   See you in 2024! ­ L’équipe du CTIC vous souhaite de joyeuses fêtes et une merveilleuse nouvelle année en compagnie de vos proches. Nous nous remercions sincèrement de votre soutien continu envers notre engagement à renforcer l’avantage numérique du Canada dans le monde. On se revoit en 2024 ! ­ ­ We’re Hiring ­ ­ Send Us Your Feedback ­ Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) 275 Slater Street, Suite 802, K1P 5H9, Ottawa ­ ­ ­ Subscribe We acknowledge that our main office in Ottawa, Ontario is situated on un-ceded Anishinabe Algonquin territory. Nous reconnaissons que notre bureau principal à Ottawa en Ontario se trouve sur un territoire non cédé des Algonquins Anishinabe.

A Year in Perspective and Look Forward to 2023 | Une année en perspective et un regard vers 2023

This item may be of interest to my Canadian readers.

January 2023 | Subscribe | Lire en français ­ ­ ­ A Year in Perspective and a Look Forward to 2023 As we embark on a new year and an expanded chapter of ICTC’s journey, Namir Anani, ICTC President and CEO, takes a moment to reflect on last year’s economic landscape, highlight ICTC’s contribution, and the opportunities that lie ahead in 2023.   Despite the complex challenges that Canada’s economy faced last year and are now trickling into 2023, Canada’s digital-based economy continues to shape a sustainable, innovative, and business-growth climate in Canada.   ICTC will continue to drive positive change in 2023 as we explore new research, policies, and capacity building programs to advance climate solutions, assist in growing the economy, create new employment prospects for all people in Canada, tackle the social implications of the digital landscape, and support building a cybersafe and secure economy.   Read Namir’s full statement here. ­ Find out what’s ahead for ICTC in 2023! ­ ­ ­ ­ Our Publications Canadian Agri-Food Technology Sowing the Seeds for Tomorrow ­ “A sustainable, competitive food and agriculture system is foundational to resilient economic growth: to meet this opportunity, Canada will need to prioritize agri-food innovation and digitization.” Digital Transformation The Next Big Leap in Healthcare ­ “The Canadian health system faces ongoing pressure to adopt new equipment and technology for improving healthcare administration and delivery: skilled talent is essential to this transition.” ­ ­ ­

Policy Updates

WIPO published the 2022 Global Innovation Index in December, which details the innovation performance of 132 economies. Canada ranked 15th overall, climbing rank for the second year in a row and returning to the top 15 for the first time since 2016. Canada ranked exceptionally well in four indicators—VC recipients, joint venture and strategic alliance deals, software spending, and university-industry R&D collaboration—but ranked poorly in indicators related to ecological sustainability, ICT access, and labour productivity growth. Globally, 2020 and 2021 data show that science and innovation investments thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, with large increases in R&D spending, IP filings, and VC deals. Four industries, in particular, experienced strong growth: ICT hardware, software and ICT services, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, and construction and industrial metals.

The Ministers of Natural Resources and Innovation published their long-awaited critical minerals strategy last month, backed by $3.8 billion in federal funding. The strategy recognizes the significance of Canada’s critical minerals to the global digital and green economies, and their strategic importance to Canada’s economic and national security interests. It highlights six strategic focus areas: exploration and R&D, responsible project development, building sustainable infrastructure, advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, growing a diverse workforce, and strengthening global leadership and security. The Government of Canada will begin formal negotiations with the European Commission to become an associate member of Horizon Europe. Horizon Europe is the world’s largest science, research, and innovation collaboration program, running from 2021 to 2027 with an overall budget of $130 billion. Becoming an associate member would give Canada’s academic, research, and innovation stakeholders new opportunities to collaborate internationally and develop interdisciplinary solutions to global challenges. The United Nations Biodiversity Conference, held in Montreal, ended last month with governments around the world agreeing to a new global biodiversity framework. The framework features 23 targets for governments to achieve by 2030, including effective conservation and management of at least 30% of the world’s land, coastal areas, and oceans; halving global food waste; phasing out subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion USD per year; and mobilizing at least $200 billion USD of biodiversity-related funding per year. While the financial targets are not legally binding and the pace of implementation remains uncertain, the agreement is yet another sign of the growing importance of clean technologies and sustainability-related jobs and skills. ­ ­ ­ Elevating Tech Talent

ICTC Partners with Magnet on CDAP to Foster Digital Adoption and Career Development ICTC has partnered with Magnet on the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) to support the delivery of Boost Your Business Technology and Youth Boost initiatives, foster career development, and help employers connect with young talent.   The CDAP Boost Your Business Technology grant gives small and medium-sized businesses access to digital advisors, up to $15,000 to develop a digital adoption plan, and access to funded work placements. ­ Apply Now! ­

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­ ICTC Events

Save the Date: Shaping an Equitable and Inclusive Post-Pandemic Recovery This February, ICTC is hosting a two-day event in Ottawa on what is needed for an equitable post-pandemic recovery, one that addresses the unique needs of marginalized and underrepresented people in the workforce, particularly in some of the hardest-hit sectors. Make 2023 resilient, inclusive, and equitable!   Contact us for more details! ­ View Event Page ­ ­ ­ We’re Hiring ­ ­ Send Us Your Feedback ­ Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) 275 Slater Street, Suite 802, K1P 5H9, Ottawa ­ ­ ­ Subscribe

Happy Holidays from ICTC | Joyeuses fêtes de la part du CTIC

And yet another season’s greeting…

­ ­ From the ICTC family to yours, we wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season and a prosperous New Year! Thank you for your continued support to our mandate in advancing Canada’s digital advantage in a global economy!   See you in 2023! ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ De la famille du CTIC à la vôtre, nous vous souhaitons un excellent temps des Fêtes et une nouvelle année prospère ! Merci de votre soutien fidèle à notre mandat pour renforcer l’avantage numérique du Canada dans une économie mondiale !   Au plaisir de vous revoir en 2023 ! ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) 275 Slater Street, Suite 802, K1P 5H9, Ottawa ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­