Content Partnerships Program

The Content Partnerships Program is an OVIN program designed to connect industry, post-secondary institutions, and learners across the province to a central online learning platform (OVIN Learn) with Ontario-made content and enable wider access to training and educational programs for individuals and teams in different regions across Ontario. This program will showcase what Ontario is capable of when it comes to automotive and mobility upskilling training.   

The Content Partnerships Program will support Ontario’s automotive and mobility talent pool in developing and building on new and existing skills that would support their growth in the workforce. OVIN Learn will have the added benefit of facilitating global access to these important resources, at a time when access to learning environments is increasingly challenging and will be a place where workers and employers can find opportunities to advance their skillsets. 

Content developed through the Content Partnerships Program will focus on elements related to upskilling talent in the automotive and mobility workforce, will provide wider access to training and educational programs for regions across Ontario, and will facilitate the promotion of Ontario’s ecosystem to the global market.  

To support this program, OVIN invites interested and qualified applicants with demonstrated experience to develop two or more micro-credentials in response to the automotive and mobility industry skills and talent needs.  

The goals of OVIN’s Content Partnerships Program include:

• Bringing sector-specific educational programs online, with a focus on micro-credential opportunities designed to upskill the workforce, meet future skills-needs, and represent various segments of the sector.   
• Engaging industry to validate and support micro-credential development.  
• Providing a framework to navigate learning pathways through industry-approved credential and accreditation standards.  
• Developing a final report outlining the frameworks, gaps, and accreditation guidelines, to ensure training and upskilling learning outcomes or skillsets match industry requirements.   

OVIN invites interested and qualified applicants with demonstrated experience in sector-relevant content development to apply for up to $50,000 to develop two or more micro-credentials in response to the automotive and mobility industry skills and talent needs. A select number of applicants may be awarded up to $100,000 only if they intend to develop at least four (4) inter-connected micro-credentials, in both English and French, that create one or more learning pathways for users, going over and above the expectations outlined in this document. The proposal should detail their proposed objectives accordingly within their development plan. 

The Content Partnerships Programs aims to provide content that is relevant to the different segments of the automotive and mobility workforce in Ontario. Applicants must consider the diversity of members across the workforce to ensure that content on OVIN Learn addresses the unique needs of the sector:  

Category	Details
Type of employee	From entry-level to executive management
Years of experience	From new hires to those who have been in the industry 25+ years
Specific to the needs of one or more segments of the sector	– Automotive and parts manufacturing – Aftermarket, maintenance, and repair – Connected and Autonomous Vehicles – Safety Management and Controls – Freight and goods movement – Tool, die and mold – Mobility planning and infrastructure – Electrification and batteries – Propulsion systems – Light weighting – Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) – Rail transportation – Marine transportation – Semiconductors

Under the Content Partnerships Program, selected institutions will provide digestible, short-term micro-credentials, related to upskilling talent in the sector, resulting in a digital badge, certificate, or other industry-recognized credential. This platform will be free to use for the members of Ontario’s automotive and mobility workforce. 

• The curriculum must be developed in response to the automotive and mobility industry’s workforce needs.  
• Micro-credentials developed through this program must be vetted by industry therefore, applicants are asked to work with their industry partner(s) to demonstrate that the content and the approach to content development is valid and high impact (i.e., that a high number of users will register to take the micro-credentials). Applicants must also describe in detail their methods/approaches of validating the content with industry.  
• Once awarded, proponents will have up to six months to develop their content and upload it onto the platform. 
• Programs must demonstrate commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, through:   
  • Considering different user accessibility needs  
  • Considering a variety of user learning styles  
  • The diversity of backgrounds and expertise of those developing the content 
  • Integrating OVIN’s DEI objectives, as outlined in the Talent Strategy and Roadmap, and promoting DEI throughout content materials and recruitment of users
• Applicants are encouraged to conduct an environmental scan of existing programs related to the automotive and mobility sector and demonstrate their understanding of the other players in the province, to identify potential partners.   
• Micro-credentials delivered through this program must directly help learners develop knowledge and skills, and access training and engagement opportunities, that reflect the needs of the rapidly evolving automotive and mobility sector.   
  • Review OVIN’s updated Labour Market Data to learn more about which skills would allow learners to succeed in future careers in the sector.   
  • Programs must leverage OVIN’s Talent Strategy & Roadmap and labour market research to help inform program design to help inform program design.      
• The micro-credentials developed under the Content Partnerships Program should benefit a multitude of users across the automotive and mobility sector.  
  • Specialized micro-credentials developed solely for the individual use of one industry organization are not eligible. 
• Proposals must ensure that the micro-credential being developed will have an impact on Ontario’s automotive and mobility workforce, demonstrate the industry need, leverage research and data, and outline the number of employees who will require upskilling in the specific subject-matter being proposed.  

Program Content Guidelines 

Content within the Content Partnerships Program must be based on  demonstrated industry-needs to upskill talent in the automotive and mobility workforce in Ontario that is:

• Relevant to specific skills and competencies  
• Based on existing education or work experience 
• Measurable against reported skills gaps 

Subject-matter developed under this initiative must align with one or more of the three streams below:  

Stream One: Content focused on Technical Skills 

In recent years, the emergence of new technologies in the automotive and mobility sector has impacted skills and training that workers require to be successful in the field. These trends and technological advancements have raised upskilling and talent development needs for individuals in the sector. As such, technical skills training programs are necessary to capture the evolving talent needs of the sector.  

Key in-demand areas of focus could include: 

1. Sourcing of Raw Materials 
2. Battery Production
3. EV Manufacturing
4. EV Automotive Repair and Aftermarket
5. EV Infrastructure

Stream Two: Content focused on Non-Technical Skills  

There is an opportunity to develop content that will address the needs of the sector and ensure that members of industry are set up for success. These skills and abilities complement technical knowledge and expertise and allow for better communication, management, and execution of tasks and projects to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness. 

Content under all streams must be developed with the following key components:  

• Content design, development, and submission   

• Content logistics and administration    

• Intellectual Property (IP) and Content Licensing considerations   

• Recognition of completed course that is aligned with industry standards  

• Content Monitoring and Evaluation   

• Proposal Questions 

Eligible Applicants 

The following applicants are eligible to apply: 

• Accredited Ontario-based post-secondary education institutions 
• Other accredited institutions creating micro-credentials or other courses  
• Ontario based Non-Profit Organizations that: 
  • Have an Ontario-based bank account and   
  • Run education programs for members of the automotive and mobility workforce in Ontario 

Matching Contribution 

• OVIN requires applicants to develop a dedicated industry advisory committee (or engage an existing industry advisory committee) or conduct focus groups with industry stakeholders n order to work collaboratively with industry partners in Ontario, ensuring the input from industry is present throughout the development of the micro-credentials.   
• The monetary value of this matching contribution will be determined by the number of hours that the members of the industry advisory committee spend and the cost of their time.   
• Applicants are also asked to gather letters of support from their industry partner(s) outlining that the content addresses a current skills gap in the sector and the projected number of users who will register for the course on OVIN Learn. 

Partnerships Requirements  

Working with an industry partner is required under the Content Partnerships Program to ensure that there is effective validation from industry throughout the development of micro-credential(s).  

• All partners must be Ontario–based. 
• Industry partners must be automotive and mobility industry members, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 suppliers, and relevant industry associations.  
• Industry Partners are expected to validate the content being developed under the micro-credentials by the applicant and ensure that it is in response to an industry skills/talent need. 
• OVIN requires applicants to develop a dedicated industry advisory committee (or engage an existing industry advisory committee)and/or conduct focus groups with industry stakeholders, ensuring the input from industry is present throughout the development of the micro-credential(s).  
• Industry partners must provide letters of support outlining that the content addresses a current skills gap in the sector and the projected number of users who will register for the course on OVIN Learn

 
*Please note that program funds will only be released to successful applicants, and not to their partners.  

• Once ready to apply for the Content Partnership Program, the applicant should connect with their OCI Business Development and Commercialization Manager (BDCM) to initiate the application process through AccessOCI.   

• If new to OCI, the applicant should complete the Program Enquiry Form to be connected with an OCI – BDCM to discuss the eligibility and how to start the application process.  

*Please note that completion of this form does not constitute an application for funding. Once the Program Enquiry Form has been completed, an OCI – BDCM will contact you shortly to discuss the opportunity and if required, to assist in developing the full application.   

• The Content Partnerships Program employs a one-stage application process. The full application package must include your application proposal and any other supporting documents.  
• Please complete and submit your proposal via AccessOCI. Please note that this is now an open program, and we will be reviewing proposals on an ongoing basis.
• For more details about this program, please see the Program Guidelines.  

Other resources:

• Eligible Expenses
• Funding Agreement Licensed IP
• Funding Agreement Owned IP

Information Sessions

Upcoming sessions:

Thursday July 24th, 10:00 am
Link to Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qa2L3ZXtS2ao5r-bfqxwoA 
Meeting ID: 852 8201 7896 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions about the process, please contact Rodayna Abuelwafa, Talent Strategy & Workforce Planning Project Lead at rabuelwafa@oc-innovation.ca