Carleton University is expanding and improving the Future Skills Innovation Network (FUSION) program thanks to $2.8M funding in part by the Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program.
“Investing in education and opportunity for youth is a requirement for a successful workforce of tomorrow. This project will allow thousands of students to develop key skills, while directly meeting the needs of the industry and benefiting the Canadian economy,” said Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.
The FUSION network consisting of five Canadian Universities (Carleton University, University of Calgary, Concordia University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of Saskatchewan) was initially launched and funded by the Future Skills Centre to collaborate, design and deliver the FUSION skills development program to students.
The FUSION program contains seven modules providing students — particularly those in underrepresented groups — with the technical knowledge and soft skills they need to succeed in personal and future work situations and environments. Topics covered include communication, problem-solving and inclusivity. Students can access the modules in select academic courses and as part of specific experiential learning or work-integrated learning opportunities at Carleton. Since 2021, over 2,000 students and alumni from across the member universities have enrolled in the program.
“The FUSION program at Carleton has been invaluable in providing instructors with a resource that supports success for students across all educational and cultural backgrounds,” said L. Pauline Rankin, Provost and Vice-President (Academic). “By integrating FUSION into their courses, our instructors can ensure students acquire a set of skills and values that help them succeed in the classroom and chosen careers.”
Thanks to this generous grant, Carleton will lead the evolution of FUSION by creating six additional training modules aligned to Canada’s Skills for Success Framework — a set of skills from adaptability to writing that have been identified as essential to participate and thrive in learning, work, and life.
Carleton will also introduce new partnerships with industry leaders IBM, Ericsson and Ross Video. These organizations will promote the program and provide valuable feedback on the FUSION skills module content to help ensure it is relevant and integral to their business and broader industry needs, which helps to ensure that the skills students learn are transferable to professional environments.
“I am very excited that Carleton is leading this next phase of FUSION and am grateful for this support from Government of Canada’s Skills for Success Program,” said David Hornsby, Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President (Academic). “The infusion of new modules and business partners re-energizes the program and reinforces our commitment as instructors to equip and prepare our students to navigate challenges and be ready to contribute to society.”
For more information on the FUSION Program, visit the Teaching and Learning Services website.