Future Skills
Future skills – basic literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills – are important across all economic sectors and occupations. Figuring out who and how to address skills gaps is key to building an inclusive workforce with upward mobility.
Project
FUSION: Future Skills Innovation Network for Universities
The program focused on building metacognition (awareness or understanding of one’s own thinking), communication and problem-solving skills through flexible, experiential and reflective learning delivered in co-op programs across humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines.
Project
Reboot Plus Expansion
The Reboot Plus Expansion program, led by Douglas College and PEERs Employment & Education Resources, aims to re-engage youth aged 17–24 who are at risk of not finishing high school or are unsure of their academic and career trajectories.
Video
SN Impact Media Interview with FSC Executive Director, Noel Baldwin
Content from: SN Impact Media via Youtube
November 21, 2025
Noel Baldwin has been the Executive Director of the Future Skills Centre (FSC) since June, 2024. He brings nearly two decades of experience in leading strategic initiatives and policy development in postsecondary education, adult learning and skills development.
Since joining FSC in 2019 as Director of Government and Public Affairs, Noel has provided leadership in navigating the complex skills ecosystem and working with diverse stakeholders to foster innovation in skills development that addresses the evolving needs of the workforce and promotes inclusive economic growth. FSC has successfully forged strong relationships with federal departments, provinces, territories, municipalities, and international organizations like the OECD. His efforts drove FSC’s early strategic initiatives, including targeted investments addressing critical gaps across regions and sectors.
Blog
Bridging the Divide: Skills, AI, and Inclusion for Canada’s Future
AI literacy now needs to be as fundamental as reading and writing. Every worker, in healthcare, trades, education, or tech, needs to understand how to use AI safely and effectively.
Project
Development of Soft Skills in Future Employees
Employers in New Brunswick have reported a pressing need for enhanced soft skills among workers. Recognizing this, the Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick / Community College of New Brunswick (CCNB) launched a project designed to enhance the soft skills of its students.
Project
Testing and Evaluating the Impact of a New Model of Innovation in Workforce Development in Newfoundland and Labrador
This project was administered by the College of the North Atlantic, with the Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre and the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills. It aimed to test and evaluate the impact of Regional Workforce Development Committees.
Project
Upskilling Program for Jobs in Digital Health and Data Analytics
The Michener Institute of Education at UHN in Toronto, Canada, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of its “Upskilling Program for Jobs in Digital Health and Data Analytics”, aimed at bridging the skills gap in healthcare professionals' proficiency with advanced digital and data-driven technologies.
In the Media
CBC The House Podcast: Will AI make or break Canada?
Content from: cbc.ca a
October 11, 2025
FSC Executive Director, Noel Baldwin participates in The House podcast.
The Carney government is charging ahead with AI development in an effort to supercharge the Canadian economy and make Canada a global powerhouse — but experts warn that if handled poorly, the technology could be disastrous. Host Catherine Cullen takes a deep dive this week on The House and visits an inventor in Montreal leveraging AI to make a big leap in health care.
In the Media
Most Canadian workers support equity efforts despite some backlash: report
Content from: ctvnews.ca and The Canadian Press
October 30, 2025
A majority of Canadian workers say they view equity, diversity and inclusion favourably, according to a new report, even in the face of some backlash.