Nobina Robinson

Calgary's Business, May 30, 2018Online

URL: https://calgarysbusiness.ca/viewpoint/need-nurture-skills-economy/

When leaders of the world’s seven most advanced economies meet on June 8 and 9 in Charlevoix, Que., the top-line agenda item will be preparing for the jobs of the future.

Policy Options, May 7, 2018Online

URL: http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/may-2018/our-planning-for-the-future-of-work-must-include-education/

In order to prepare for the jobs of the future we need to change the way we think about education, especially skills, credentials and experience.

Ottawa Life Magazine, February 2, 2018Online

URL: http://www.ottawalife.com/article/the-value-of-a-hands-on-bachelors-degree?c=9

In late November, Statistics Canada kicked off the holiday season with a data drop. As part of the dissemination of 2016 Census data, they released their comprehensive reports on education, covering a wide range of topics, including overall education attainment and the skills mismatches and earnings potential of bachelor’s degree graduates in Canada.

The Globe and Mail Report on Business, November 7, 2017Online

URL: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/polytechnics-deserve-a-bigger-slice-of-the-federal-rd-pie/article36863704/

Innovation is not solely driven by science or basic research. Yet, the federal government regularly conflates and confuses these concepts in its efforts to push Canada toward an "innovation economy." This is shown by the skewed imbalance in how the federal government funds science, innovation and commercialization activities.

So what is innovation?

Hill Times, October 31, 2017Online

URL: http://www.hilltimes.com/2017/10/31/three-reasons-canada-invest-polytechnic-education-innovation/124201

The G7 met in late September to discuss how the nature of work is changing, and how, largely, automation is driving that change. Canada’s Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour Minister Patty Hajdu, along with her counterparts, discussed the challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how to put “people and work at the heart of innovation.”

Hill Times, June 21, 2017Online

URL: https://www.hilltimes.com/2017/06/21/federal-governments-221-million-investment-innovation-internships-must-include-colleges-polytechnics/111270

When parliamentarians return to their ridings for the summer recess, they will have many opportunities to congratulate this spring’s crop of post-secondary graduates, proud of their achievements and eager to take their place in the workforce.

Hill Times, June 5, 2017Online

URL: https://www.hilltimes.com/2017/06/05/science-necessary-not-sufficient-innovation/108911

Nations need to have well-articulated strategies addressing science, innovation, competitiveness and productivity. Confusing or conflating these distinct but complementary goals is a recipe for underperformance.

Edmonton Journal, May 31, 2017Online

URL: http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-polytechnics-train-workers-for-next-generation-infrastructure

Canada’s economy is inextricably linked to our infrastructure – and it’s always been so.

Huffington Post, May 4, 2017Online

URL: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nobina-robinson/toolboxes-and-technology_b_16407782.html

Canada's economic landscape is changing. To see how, one must look no further than the March 22 federal budget and follow the money. Big chunks of funding will be delivered to the likes of Artificial Intelligence (AI), clean tech, the digital economy and agri-food.

Policy Options, April 21, 2017Online

URL: http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/april-2017/dont-leave-the-skilled-trades-out-of-canadas-innovation-conversation/

Innovation can’t just mean developing apps, it must include building the knowledge and capacity of Canada’s skilled trades people.

Montreal Gazette, March 12, 2017Online

URL: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-polytechnics-educate-youth-for-the-job-market

It’s not easy being young these days — especially where employment is concerned.

Maclean's, January 24, 2016Online

URL: http://www.macleans.ca/education/university-or-college-polytechnics-fall-somewhere-in-between/

“You don’t go here to study psychology or sociology or ancient history, as vital as those may be,” explains Nobina Robinson, CEO of Polytechnics Canada, a member-funded association that conducts research, development and analysis. “You go to Sheridan because they’re world leaders in animation arts. You attend Seneca to do their bachelor’s in open-source-software technical development, because they’re working with Mozilla and Firefox.”...

The Hill Times, November 5, 2015Online

URL: http://www.polytechnicscanada.ca/sites/default/files/Championing%20innovation%20as%20important%20as%20unleashing%20science%20_%20hilltimes.pdf

Let’s be honest. Barely a peep was heard about innovation from any of the three major parties over the course of the lengthy federal election campaign. And now, stimulating Canadian innovation will have to find a place on the long “to do” list of the new Liberal government. Meanwhile, Canada’s total spending on research and development is expected to decline for a third consecutive year, down 0.7 per cent from 2014. The new government will be fully aware of our sluggish international comparative rankings in innovation and competitiveness.

The Globe and Mail, September 29, 2015Online

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/a-university-degree-isnt-the-only-or-best-way-to-build-your-earning-power/article26571488/

Over the past few years, gloom-and-doom news reports and commentaries have warned about the dangers of pursuing any sort of higher education other than earning a university degree, in terms of ultimate earning potential. The general argument is usually that a university degree leads to a high-paying, successful career and that other forms of postsecondary education or trades training don’t pay off. Those ideas, however, rest on a shaky foundation that crumbles under the slightest scrutiny. First off, the university-degree promoters wrongly equate the career-earning power of baby boomers who graduated from university with those recent university grads, mistakenly applying conclusions from the past to the present.