In today’s rapidly changing economy, employers are increasingly looking for workers with broad knowledge and adaptable skills, while students are looking to bridge their classroom learning to the workplace. Employers, students and universities must partner to ensure we are equipping students with the skills, knowledge and experience they need to thrive, and to help strengthen the talent pipeline that secures jobs, fosters innovation and drives Ontario’s economy.
Ontario’s universities are committed to nurturing the talented and successful citizens of tomorrow by giving students the high-quality skills, knowledge and experiences that will set them up for fulfilling lives and careers. Currently, these efforts have resulted in Ontario university graduates holding a 94 per cent employment rate two years after graduation, with 89 per cent of graduates holding jobs closely or somewhat related to their degree.
We know, however, that there is more work to be done, and we are continuously working with partners across all sectors on innovative methods to help our students thrive. These include:
Ensuring all students acquire the knowledge and adaptable skills, including the ability to communicate them to prospective employers, that helps ensure career success. Ontario’s universities are doing this, in part, by making sure every program explicitly outlines the knowledge and skills that students will develop by graduation.
Partnering with a wide range of employers – from major corporations to non-profits and tech start-ups – to help students apply their skills and knowledge through experiential learning opportunities such as co-ops, internships and community engagement projects.
In order to ensure every student benefits from experiential learning by the time they graduate, the government will need to:
Provide financial support for new technology and innovative teaching methods to help ensure all students can continue to enjoy an enriching educational experience while also developing the core skills they need for the future.
In our report, you will find a comprehensive summary of what we heard from Ontarians and how Ontario's universities are working across all sectors to help students thrive, support our communities, and drive a growing, dynamic province.
Browse through reports and related materials to find out about Ontario universities' role in everything ranging from university graduate employment to family medicine and community transformation.