A future-ready workforce in data sciences

In the fall of 2023, the Data Sciences Institute (DSI) launched the Data Science and Machine Learning Software Foundations Certificates. These certificates aim to upskill learners, identify rewarding opportunities in the data sciences sector, accelerate learners' journeys toward a new career, aid in career transition, and provide networking opportunities.

By 2026, digital literacy is projected to be essential for 90% of jobs in Canada. The certificates offer affordable, flexible and rigorous upskilling opportunities, designed for learners with a university degree or college diploma who have three or more years of work experience.

“What we’re hearing from our partners in industry is that targeted training in key areas can greatly increase the available talent pool in this fast-moving sector,” says Lisa Strug, a professor in U of T’s Departments of Statistical Sciences and Computer Science, and academic director of DSI.

The certificates are powered by Upskill Canada, a national initiative run by Palette Skills and funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).

Training a strong data science workforce was also a key theme of DSI’s first annual Data Science Research Day, which attracted more than 250 attendees from academia, industry, and government in September 2023.

A panel discussion on Data Science for an Effective Workforce featured industry leaders from diverse sectors who discussed how data science is revolutionizing workforce efficiency and effectiveness. Their insights illuminated the transformative power of data science in decision-making, strategic planning, and operational excellence.

“There hasn’t been a more exciting time to be in data and data science. What we are seeing is the expectations of our clients have fundamentally changed, the world we work in today has been moving faster and is more tailored than ever seen before,” says Dana Ohab, Associate Partner, Digital & Emerging Technology at EY.