TORONTO: IBT College is honoured to be named as a finalist for the Global PIEoneer Awards Digital Innovation in Learning for our work in creating Microcredentials that utilize Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality.
The PIEoneer Awards honour innovation and achievement across the whole of the global education industry. Nominees in this category come from around the globe with this year’s finalists coming from Singapore, the UK, Korea, Germany, Ireland and Canada – represented by IBT College. With a distinguished judging panel representing geographical and professional diversity, The PIEoneer Awards recognize both individuals and organizations who are pushing professional standards, evolving their engagement or redefining the international student experience.
“Congratulations to IBT College on being recognized internationally for creating virtual micro-credentials that use virtual reality and augmented reality to train the next generation of health care workers,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This program clearly exemplifies how Ontario’s Micro-credentials Strategy is helping learners to access the skills and training they need for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.”
IBT College is the only Career College in Canada to be short-listed as a finalist.
“IBT College is thrilled that our Virtual Microcredentials have been shortlisted for a PIEoneer award. These awards celebrate innovation and achievement in Higher Education and we are very honoured to be recognized. IBT College has worked incredibly hard to create innovative healthcare solutions and we are excited to continue to expand our innovation into other training areas,” stated IBT College President Joe Shokour.
James Rice, the Vice-President of IBT College, reflected that, “It is quite an honour to be recognized on a global level for the incredible efforts put in to the work by our team.”
“Our government is on a mission to prepare the next generation for the future of work with innovative training programs like microcredentials,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “I congratulate IBT College for their work in giving young people the skills they need to earn bigger paycheques and fill in-demand jobs.”
You can view the 2023 Finalists here: https://pieoneerawards.com/2023/en/page/finalists-2023
The PIEoneer Awards 2023 will be held on Friday 22nd September in London, England. There will also be a live broadcast of the show, so delegates who can’t join us on the night can watch all the action as it happens.
IBT College was awarded a Community Impact Award as part of the Government of Ontario’s Micro-credentials Challenge Fund. Through the use of these funds IBT College developed a complex Micro-credential Project: Home Support Worker Micro-credentials Leading to a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Diploma using Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality.
As outlined in the Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund Program Guidelines and Requirements (released April 2021), up to an additional $1 million may be awarded in each of four regions to applicants whose project(s) are successful, scalable, and have a significant community impact.
The primary goal of the Ontario Micro-credentials Challenge Fund is to increase the number and types of Micro-credentials available across the province that respond to regional labour market needs while increasing collaboration between the private and public sectors through formal partnerships between postsecondary institutions, training providers, and employers.
