“The Porsche Cars Canada partnership is just a fantastic example of where SCS, by leveraging our expertise and working with different groups within U of T, taps into the strength of the university.” – SCS Dean Catherine Chandler-Crichlow
The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) has been working with U of T faculties and divisions to empower leading organizations to upskill their workforce through customized training that aligns with evolving industry demands.
One of these organizations, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., recently celebrated a significant milestone in their commitment to providing staff of their headquarters as well as Porsche Centre staff across the country with specialized knowledge on electric vehicle (EV) technology and innovation: the completion of the 500th Porsche Electro-Mobility Certification micro-credential.
In response to the accelerating shift towards EVs, in 2021 Porsche Cars Canada leadership set out to enhance employee training with a forward-looking approach. They partnered with SCS and the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering (FASE) to create a custom micro-credential designed to give Porsche Centre staff an in-depth understanding of this bourgeoning technology.
“Creating this micro-credential is really a hallmark of our culture,” explains Derek Tadros, Director of Retail Development at Porsche Cars Canada.
“Porsche has always strived to be at the forefront of innovation. So I think from the onset, when we looked at the situation and the start of the electrification of our brand, we realized we had knowledge gaps. And we knew we needed a partner to help support us in ensuring we can provide the right skills and knowledge.”
The University of Toronto (UofT) School of Continuing Studies’ Organizational and Corporate Training department and U of T Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) professor Olivier Trescases were the ideal collaborators to provide that support.
Trescases, who is both a professor in electrical and computer engineering and the director of the U of T Electric Vehicle Research Centre, agrees. “It's been an amazing experience working with Porsche and the School of Continuing Studies. It's been really a team exercise to craft this program according to their needs,” he explains.
“I think this kind of micro-credential is essential to being competitive in the space of electric vehicles because the workforce really wasn't trained in that area and needs to make a shift. We're seeing major investments in Ontario, and I think this aligns very well with retraining, and retooling in particular.”
The micro-course was originally designed to establish competency in foundational electrical concepts and core EV technologies, as well as more forward-looking innovations such as vehicle-to-grid and wireless charging. Thanks to Trescases’ expertise, the course content has continued to evolve alongside advancements in EV technology.
Trescases says he sees this kind of just-in-time, customized education as increasingly valuable. “Companies don't necessarily have the time for their employees to spend two or four years in an advanced degree, but they want something very targeted that's up to date and that's from a trusted source,” he elaborates.
“And I think this program really satisfied that requirement and I think we will see more and more of it going forward.”
Now, with electric vehicles selling in higher numbers than ever before Porsche has passed the milestone of 500 micro-credentials earned by Canadian Porsche Centre staff, and they are not stopping there. The ninth cohort of the program began in the fall, and participants say the micro-course leaves them feeling confident in their ability to address any concerns or questions their clients might have.
“The engineering element brought into this course, which is so much different than what we’re typically used to seeing in the showroom, definitely made my knowledge of all things electric vehicles and batteries, so much broader in terms of my comfort level being able to explain the technology a lot more thoroughly than I did before taking the course,” says New Car Sales Manager at Porsche Centre Oakville, Domenica Giordiano.
The program’s success is also due to Porsche Cars Canada’s decision to include both front-line staff and senior leadership. Julianna Morris, Senior Manager of Porsche People Excellence in Training believes this inclusivity was crucial, as it demonstrated to staff that members of leadership were willing to ‘walk the talk” when it came to continuing education and upskilling.
“Having such positive feedback from the Porsche Centre teams has made me realize that continuing education and ensuring that people are skilled and have the knowledge as we progress in electromobility is essential to our success and to their success,” she says.
“I believe that organizations must actively partner with universities to ensure the workforce of tomorrow is equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for long-term success.”
SCS Dean Catherine Chandler-Crichlow says the School of Continuing Studies’ Organizational and Corporate Training department is prepared to facilitate these kinds of academic-industry partnerships, not just in the automotive field, but across industries. By working with faculties and professors who are doing leading-edge research at the university, SCS can help bring current, highly-sought new skills to the workplace.
“I think the Porsche Canada partnership is just a fantastic example of where the school, by leveraging our expertise and working with different groups within the university, taps into the strength of the university. So, it's a win, win, win in all directions,” she explains.
A key strength of SCS is its ability to design, deliver, and evaluate high quality learning for adults, Dean Chandler-Crichlow adds.
“That means that we can work with adults in any organization and at any level within that organization.” she says.
“What really excites me about what we have the potential to do going forward is to continue to broaden our reach along different pathways and with different groups to continue to innovate within the micro-credential space itself. We are highly focused on the technical with Porsche, but there's a whole range of programming there that's just sort of waiting for us to tap into. That's very exciting.”
With this collaboration, U of T and Porsche Cars Canada are proving how customized, cutting-edge education can empower organizations to stay competitive in a fast-changing world.
To learn how SCS can support your organization’s workforce training and upskilling needs, please visit our Corporate and Organizational Training services page.