Work-integrated Learning
Project
An Educational Pathway to Employment for Internationally Trained Nurses in Alberta
Internationally educated nurses (IENs) represent a significant and underutilized part of the solution, yet systemic barriers consistently prevent them from securing nursing employment in Canada. To bridge this gap, Bow Valley College developed and piloted six employer-informed microcredential courses across two educational pathways, specifically designed to help IENs navigate the clinical and contextual demands of the Canadian healthcare workplace.
Project
Health English Language Pro: Leveraging A Physician-Driven Response to Medical Communication Skills Development for Newcomer Physicians
The HELP program (Health English Language Pro) was developed to address some of these barriers through a peer-to-peer partnership model between volunteer and newcomer physicians. The program focused on improving English medical communication, understanding of the Canadian healthcare system, professional confidence, and social capital.
Research
Pathways to Careers: Advancing Neuroinclusive Work‑Integrated Learning in Higher Education
Signal49 Research, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre, is exploring how post-secondary WIL providers and workplace hosts can design more inclusive programs that set neurodivergent students up for success.
Project
Inclusive Work Integrated Learning - What works for whom?
The IntegratED program was designed to address the skills gap and labour market challenges in Manitoba’s food and beverage manufacturing industry by providing skills training and work experience to support international students and recent newcomer graduates in STEM fields.
Research
From Jobs to Journeys: Rethinking How Canada Forecasts Skills Supply
Canadian organizations are navigating rapid labour and technology transitions—
automation, demographic aging, digitalization, and shifting educational pathways. Yet our core tools for forecasting skills supply are outdated.
Research
From Newcomers to Game Changers: A Scorecard for Immigrant Skill Utilization
Canada has long prioritized selecting highly skilled and educated immigrants for permanent residency. Yet once they arrive, many find themselves unemployed or working below their qualification level.
Research
Level Up: Shaping the Future of Learning and Development in Canada
Automation, digital tools, and new work models continue to reshape jobs across every sector, and employees need access to high quality learning opportunities to keep pace.
Research
Small Business, Big Potential: Guiding AI Adoption Among Small Businesses
Signal49 Research, in partnership with the Future Skills Centre, is developing a decision support tool to help SMEs explore potential use cases for adopting AI and its impact on their business outcomes.
Research
Retaining Canada’s Healthcare Workforce: Keeping Talented Workers in Our Health Systems
Canada’s healthcare system is facing a human resource crisis. Despite investments in recruitment and training, provincial and territorial health systems are struggling to retain healthcare professionals as workers move to other provinces or leave Canada altogether.