Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation Newsletter January 2021

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PARTNER PROFILE: BARRETT CENTRE FOR TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2021

A new $3 million gift from leading automotive supplier Magna is helping to support its employees and Humber graduates for an evolving workforce. The gift will be distributed over five years through 22 scholarships and other initiatives to develop, attain and enhance the skills needed for the future workforce, particularly in the advanced manufacturing sector. This recent commitment also builds on more than 20 years of collaboration between Humber and Magna. “The way we can stay ahead in a competitive and constantly changing world is to plan and invest in the future,” said Aaron McCarthy, Magna’s chief human resources officer. Magna’s gift will help to support equipment needs and special initiatives at the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, including skills competitions, applied research projects, apprenticeship training, continuing education, and traditional and digital skills training programs. The investment will also create new upskilling opportunities, which will benefit Magna employees.

Pictured above (L-R): Neal Mohammed, director, Barrett CTI, Greg James, regional sales manager, Festo Didactic, and Conrad Rieckhof, product manager, Festo Canada, pose for a photo in the Festo Cyber Physical Factory in the Barrett CTI during a virtual webinar. Not Shown-Mike Nager, business development, Festo Didactic (presenter).

Barrett CTI partners finding new virtual ways to engage and innovate In 2020 and now 2021, the Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation (Barrett CTI) has continued to make new and enhanced connections with partners in the manufacturing, education and applied research sectors. This would not be possible without the technology and expertise from the Barrett CTI and Humber’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Consortium, which fully supported the transition to virtual events and initiatives.

Introducing high school students to STEM In November 2020, Consortium partner Cisco collaborated with the Barrett CTI to host ‘Take Your Kids to STEM Day’. This two-hour virtual event showed high school students the diverse career opportunities within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. By using Cisco’s WebEx platform with its substantial virtual attendee capacities, more than 350 high school students attended the event.

“At Magna, we’re committed to providing students and working people with opportunities to further their education, gain new skills, and bring out the best in themselves. This is a core part of the Magna culture and we’re grateful for the opportunity to continue our partnership with Humber College,” said McCarthy.

Students heard from a variety of presenters, including Jill Heinerth, a cave diver and underwater explorer who is currently the Explorer in Residence for the Royal Canadian Geography Society.

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While any high school student could attend, one of Cisco’s goals was to get more young women thinking about careers in technology. “The goal overall is to reach out to young girls across the country and let them know that a career in technology is something that’s available, exciting and where they can really make a huge impact,” said Willa Black, vice-president of corporate affairs for Cisco Canada.

humber.ca/barrettcti


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