The Kelowna Roundtable
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
The Kelowna Roundtable Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue October 9, 2008
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The Kelowna Roundtable
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Table of Contents
First Steps
Executive Summary Background The Roundtable Series Goal The Forum Delegates Message Addressing the Challenge The On-going Commitment
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The Kelowna Roundtable
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
First Steps
Recognizing a need to demonstrate some concrete action from the Kelowna Roundtable, the Proponent team of Okanagan College, Okanagan Science and Technology Council and The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC have identified four specific initiatives that they are prepared to lead:
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Creation of a local steering committee to bring together the various groups in the Central Okanagan who are each, independently, promoting the need for more attention to the sciences and technology. Okanagan College will lead this project.
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Formation of an "Industry Ambassadors" project to provide technology and science related professionals for K-12 classroom presentations. OSTEC will lead this project.
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Build a local media campaign to highlight the issue and broaden awareness. Okanagan College will lead this initiative and as a member of TECC, Andrew Hay, P.Eng, VP Okanagan College, will look to the Technology Education Careers Council (TECC) for support.
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Develop a new "Science Educator of the Year Award", for OSTEC's Silicon Valley Awards gala with ASTTBC.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Executive Summary There are fewer kids turned on to science and math and more seats empty in college technology programs. This is happening at the same time as industry is crying out for trained technologists and technicians. Why and what can we do about it?
Okanagan College, the Okanagan Science and Technology Council and the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC presented this question to thirty leaders from industry and education in the Okanagan. When confronted with the challenge of solving the problem of this technology skills shortage, the results were dramatic.
No different than any saleable commodity, there has to be a need and a market. The need exists but the market is in large measure unaware of the commodity. Technologists and technicians are for the most part “invisible”. Their roles in industry and the opportunities available in technology as a distinct career are at best misunderstood. Industry, educational institutions and professional associations must join together in a concerted plan to “educate” students, their career counsellors, parents and the public on the roles, opportunities and benefits of a technology career. We must also engage the youth to understand how to fire their imagination into science and technology and recognize what they look for in their education, workplace and career.
Out of this dialogue emerged concrete action items, including; · ·
A steering committee to bring together “like Mined” local groups, “Industry Ambassadors” to carry the message to local schools, K-12,
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A focused media campaign,
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Science Educator of the Year award.
These proposals, lead by Okanagan College, OSTEC and ASTTBC offer an opportunity for delegates to lend their support and at the same time show further leadership, bringing their own proposals forward.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Background In June 2005, ASTTBC hosted the “Building Careers In Technology” conference that identified an emerging crisis in technology education and careers. Enrolments across the Province are showing signs of decline or at best remaining steady. In some cases, critical technology programs are being cancelled through lack of awareness and interest. That conference called on ASTTBC to take action.
Over the past three years ASTTBC has alone, and with strategic partners, engaged key stakeholders in a dialogue about technology education and careers via a series of Roundtable consultations. In 2006 at the ASTTBC, Annual General Meeting, the phrase “Technology Its Time” was born and the Roundtable series conceived. In 2007, ASTTBC took the lead and held a groundbreaking event at the Wosk Center for Dialogue in Vancouver. More than 100 leaders from industry, academia, professional associations and government joined together to collaborate and develop a strategic approach to addressing this critical issue. Similar Roundtables in Campbell River, June 2008 and Prince George, January 2008 are now generating exciting and innovative results. Examples of action plans that have evolved from past Roundtables, include; ·
Create industry lead provincial advisory board.
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Introduce technology programs in K – 12.
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Develop and make available reliable labour market information.
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Develop strategic approach for technology education.
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Provide targeted funding for technology education programs.
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Increase co-op and mentoring programs.
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Credential recognition for internationally trained professionals.
Given the vital role of technology in the Central Okanagan, it became clear that the series of Roundtables was ideally suited to Kelowna. A partnership between ASTTBC, Okanagan College and The Okanagan Science and Technology Council brought this vision to life. The result – The Kelowna Roundtable on Technology Skills Shortage.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
The Roundtable Series Goal Building on the momentum of the Provincial Roundtable series, the goal for the Kelowna delegates was to: Bring together senior decision makers from industry, academia, government, First Nations and professional associations. Then through a collaborative framework draw attention to the technology skills shortage crisis, engage in discussion on meeting the demand of BC’s employers for skilled technology workers, help define solutions and create strategies.
The Forum The Coast Capri Hotel provided the forum for over thirty leaders from the technology community in the Okanagan at the October 9, 2008 Kelowna Roundtable.
The format was designed to move through four stages; networking and interaction, facilitating dialogue, an exchange of experiences and exploration of opportunities. ·
An informal, sit down breakfast allowed delegates to meet and get to know one another in a casual atmosphere,
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Presentations from leaders in education, industry and professional associations who spoke of their findings and provided the opportunity to consider the consequences now as well as future challenges.
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A working session with delegates arranged at a series of “round” tables tasked the group with addressing specific questions and formulating ideas.
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A joint luncheon for Roundtable delegates and the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce offered Chamber members an insight into the morning’s events with a very relevant and targeted message from keynote speaker Claude Kisteman a Senior HR Director with Telus.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Delegates More than thirty delegates covering a broad spectrum of key stakeholders came together to listen, discuss, plan and formulate opportunities. Some came with a message to help broaden understanding of the issue, all came with an eagerness to hear, share ideas and work collaboratively to offer strategies. The delegates included senior representatives from; Technology Industries Telus ·
Claude Kisteman, Senior HR Director
Technology Brewing Corporation ·
Mike Boudreau, P.Eng, President of OSTEC
Akela Quality Technology ·
Dwight Caroll, AScT, Principal
AECOM Consultants (Engineering) ·
Joe Mocilac, Regional Manager
Club Penguin Entertainment ·
Lance Priebe, Principal
CTQ Consultants (Engineering) ·
Matt Cameron, P.Eng and Garry Threlfall, C.Tech, Partners
Kelowna Flightcraft ·
Keri McDonald
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Northside Industries ·
Sheila Reynolds, Human Resources Manager
Vadim Software ·
Raghwa Gopal, Principal
Educators Okanagan College ·
Jim Hamilton, President
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Andrew Hay, P.Eng, VP Education
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Allan Coyle, Director Public Affairs
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Michael Douglas
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Phillip Beckman
BC Institute of Technology ·
Jim Duncan, Technology Management Program
University Of BC Okanagan ·
Spiro Yancacopoulos, P.Eng, Dean of Engineering
School District 23 ·
Kelly McRae, Career Program Facilitator
Professional Associations Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC ·
John Leech, AScT, CAE, Executive Director
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Bruce Stevens, AScT, Staff Representative
Okanagan Science and Technology Council ·
Douglas MacLeod, Executive Director
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Association Of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC ·
S. Carl Zanon, P.Eng
Southern Interior Construction Association ·
Debbie Hicks, Executive Director
Government City Of Kelowna ·
Norm Letnick and Shirley Clement, Human Resources
Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission ·
Corie Griffiths
BC Ministry Of Transportation ·
Grant Lachmuth, C.Tech,
Westbank First Nation ·
Judy Goodsky, Career Counsellor
Interior Health Authority ·
Christine Bonney, Gentil Mateus, Mal Griffith
Bowman Employment Services ·
Rosemary Hall and Susan Van Unen, Employment and Career Counsellors
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
Messages Jim Hamilton – President Okanagan College In welcoming all delegates Jim Hamilton spoke to his audience about current trends and the vast array of opportunities within a technology career. As President Of Okanagan College Jim related the challenges facing Okanagan College and their role in promoting an education in technology. John Leech, AScT, CAE – Executive Director ASTTBC Having conceived of the Roundtable series, John Leech brought a message of concern, an outline of the critical issues and an insight into strategies that have evolved as a result of previous Roundtables. From his perspective as Executive Director of the regulatory body that registers technology professionals in BC (ASTTBC) John reiterated the major issues facing educators and employers in their quest to fill the demand for technology professionals. He stated; “technology careers are invisible, generally misunderstood and not well recognized as a distinct career option. Adding to the challenge is the lack of a strategic plan for technical education”. Career selection data collected from youth 13-18 show an alarming trend; ·
68 % unlikely to consider skilled trades or technology
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72% said parents have not encouraged them to pursue these careers
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86% say their guidance / career counsellors do not recommend these careers
This trend, coupled with a high demand for technology professionals is the crisis at hand. ASTTBC is taking action through a variety of initiatives such as; ·
Raising the profile of technology professionals
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Facilitating and partnering on a province wide series of Roundtable consultations
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Promoting the need for a strategic approach to technology education in BC
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Creating programs that high light the role and opportunities in a technology career
Andrew Hay, P.Eng – Vice President Education, Okanagan College As VP Education at Okanagan College Andrew Hay sees the trends, challenges and future impacts of a technology skills shortage, first hand. Statistical projections are clearly showing a
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
dramatic increase in demand for professional, scientific and technical workers over the next 8 years. A demand second only to health care and double the third place category, management and administration. However, enrolments in the technologies are either remaining static or declining across the province as evidenced by cancelled technology courses in several major post secondary institutions. This, at a time when industry is crying out for trained technologists and technicians. The challenge, according to Andrew is “to make the technology programs more attractive and develop program structures that recognize the needs of students. We need to reach the parents who read all the headlines about outsourcing of jobs and show them that their children have an array of opportunities within a career in technology”. In closing Andrew spoke of the critical need for educators to create programs providing graduates with a balanced education encompassing not only the technical knowledge but also the business, interpersonal and organizational skills needed for the 21st century technologist. “Careers in technology are exciting and rewarding and we must get that message out to students, parents and educators.” Douglas MacLeod, Executive Director OSTEC Okanagan Science and Technology Council draws its membership from business and agencies, reliant on technology being provided by those professionals with the skills and ingenuity. Douglas spoke with real passion for the need to make education the key to solving this crisis and called on all of us to help “fire the imagination” of both students and educators around the sciences and technology. “Why is it that architecture schools have many more applicants than seats? We need to learn from those disciplines who are attracting students, we must start thinking like a 14 year old if we want to attract that age group to careers in technology.” Claude Kisteman, Senior HR Director, Telus The message from Claude Kisteman was clear; “There are simply not enough technologists and technicians entering the work force to replace those retiring. Without those professionals our technology based infrastructure is at risk.” Claude went on to raise another very significant flag; school counsellors are not recommending technology careers as an option for a large majority of students. The reason ? “The role of, contributions made by and career opportunities open to technologists and technicians is misunderstood. These people in many cases are key members of the team that designs, tests and produces a highly sophisticated piece of equipment
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
or process. They can also be the invisible link that maintains and operates that equipment or process once it is in place and functioning. Who maintains the highly sophisticated electronic systems that keeps the Telus network running ? technologists and technicians !.” But the crisis for employers and managers does not end with the hiring of new college graduates. The parallel challenge is also recognizing and adapting to the changing needs and expectations of young workers. The attitudes of the current generation of potential technology students have to be recognized and accommodated by educators and employers. The smart employers are meeting those needs and learning to structure their organisations so they appeal to today’s generation who demand life/work balance and a stimulating and relationship based workplace.
Addressing the Challenge With a clearer picture of the issues, challenges and potential opportunities, the delegates were tasked with collaborating in groups to discuss a series of questions and offer their ideas on possible solutions. The questions and a summary of each shows below; 1. What is the role of industry in addressing the skills shortage?
Industry must become more directly involved with educators, parents and students to define the current and future needs of industry and show the very real opportunity for exciting and rewarding careers in technology as a distinct career choice. ·
Development of educational material to help counsellors teach students about the wide variety of careers in technology.
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Involve the JCI to encourage technology careers.
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Scholarships.
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Input into education via hands-on “project based” learning.
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Mentoring.
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Create awareness of Industry requirements - site tours with parents involved.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
2. What are ways that OSTEC, ASTTBC and other associations / organizations could increase their role in addressing the skill shortage?
Marketing, marketing, marketing. Associations need to become more involved at the local level of education and respond to the needs and expectations of Gen Y – the need to see, touch, create and be engaged. There also needs to be recognition of the need for a dynamic and cultural work environment. ·
ASTTBC collaborate nationally to advertise the need for workers and the opportunities in this sector.
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Become “Advocates” from the industry, within the education system.
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Program advisory committees to help guidance counsellors, parents and students understand the opportunities with technology careers.
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Support creativity through hands-on learning, both in and out of the classroom, job shadowing etc.
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Continue Round Tables
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Sponsor / support interactive events
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Provide mentors for young people entering technology.
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Remove stigma’s attached to being a trades person.
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Lobby government for Student Loan forgiveness if they enter into technology!!
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Get into the class rooms
3. What can Okanagan College, OSTEC, ASTTBC and industry do to enhance enrolments in technology education? There needs to be a Provincial strategy focused on technology education. This must be coupled with an aggressive marketing campaign to demonstrate the far reaching potential for technology as a distinct career choice. Students will choose technology if they know what it is and what they can do with it as a career. ·
Invest in technological education
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Need for a provincial strategy and support.
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Rethink the education models. i.e. programs available in three options: Distance Learning, Co-op, and part time studies.
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008 ·
Be the company of choice and become more involved in the schools at the influential age of the student.
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A roundtable with 13 yr olds.
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Module based education tailored to the students.
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Leverage popular TV shows like CSI to promote schools.
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Curriculum designed for technology more variable, like some business courses.
4. What can be done to enhance the level of interest in math, science and technology in K - 12? We all need to fire the imagination of students with experiential based learning. They need to experience a career in technology and see the “intrinsic” values of excitement, creation and contribution to the greater good. ·
Bring the kids to the industry.
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Bring technologists to the classroom with examples / displays relevant to children’s everyday lives.
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"Sell" to the parents as well as the students. What is the long-term benefit of this career.
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More input to profile opportunities of careers and practical / fun applications
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Show the sizzle. Introduce the kids to exciting role models.
5. What training, education and skills sets are needed? Educators need to offer a fully balanced program that not only is technical in nature but also provides students with the communication, interpersonal, organizational and business skills necessary in the market place. Today, employers do not have the time to nurture employees at the same rate as in the past. A well rounded candidate will be preferred over one who has only the technical skills. ·
Hands-on project based training
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Business skills
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Innovative programs that relate to industry need now and for the future
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Technology Skills Shortage Dialogue – October 9, 2008
6. What is the next step? Education of students, parents, and educators is at the core of the solution. There needs to be a much greater awareness of the opportunities in technology. At the same time we need to ask ourselves some hard questions around why students are loosing interest in science and technology and why with such a demand from industry for trained technologists and technicians, college courses are below capacity. Have we properly defined what a “technologist” or “technician” is? Is our current definition outdated? Do we need to redefine the careers in technology as a marketable commodity? ·
A dedicated paid resource responsible for gathering regional government services and industry organizations to clearly define the needs of industry in the Okanagan Region.
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Clearly communicate/market the definition of technologists and the shortage
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Ask this generation! They have the answers. Take their lifestyle into consideration.
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Create bridging opportunities fro trades, colleges and universities
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Recognize Science / Math / Technology Educator of the year
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Eliminate silos between educational (Colleges, Institutes, Universities) and professional organizations (Trades, ASTTBC, APEGBC) through increased collaboration.
The On-going Commitment ASTTBC will continue their commitment to the Provincial Roundtable Series. Partnering with local Science and Technology centres, post secondary educators and the technology industry dialogues are set for Castelgar in May 2009 and planning is underway for Kamloops.
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