Forging the Future: CWB Tackles Welder Shortage and Skill Development in Canada
Canadian Welding Bureau
The CWB Group is an industry-supported private sector organization providing welding certification, management systems registration and training services to over 7600 companies in 48 countries. Recognized as one of the largest and most innovative welding organizations in the world, CWB Group’s reach is unique in that they are a national mandated organization that has successfully transitioned into international markets.
CWB was formed over 75 years ago to administer Canada’s national welding standards, which are embedded in the national building code and other industry-specific documents. Funded by industry, and acting on behalf of the Canadian public, the Welding Bureau plays an important role by certifying welding companies that create products for use within Canada as well as the welders and welding consumables used in their creation.
The Need
To address the welder shortage being experienced in Canada, CWB wanted to develop a platform that could be a resource to welders, not just in Canada, but globally. CWB identified three critical challenges that were creating obstacles in the welding industry:
increase the number of skilled trade professionals in Canada to compensate for the retirement of those in the baby boom generation
develop the skill levels of welders already in the workforce
create a clear understanding of the pathway for qualifications in each Canadian jurisdiction
The Challenge
While CWB’s subject matter experts (SMEs) are incredibly knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced, Enable brought learning experience design and web development expertise to the partnership. By taking an iterative approach to the design and development of the website, the Enable team and CWB were able to create a solution that met their requirements and outcomes.
The Solution
Enable worked closely with CWB subject matter experts, using the content they wrote and provided, to create a website that would be a valuable resource to welders looking to join the workforce in Canada. One of the design challenges was to incorporate an assessment platform into the website to make the experience interactive and to personalize the information obtained through the platform.
The Outcome
The Welder Competency and Credential Assessment Program is an online resource that provides access to services and resources to help prepare welders for Canadian welding job opportunities.
The program provides a better understanding of the welding industry and occupations in Canada. It lists the certifications that the Canadian welding workforce needs. The WCCA portal provides free online services and resources, including:
Jurisdictional requirements by profession
Competency assessment tool based on the CWB Learning resources and personalized gap analysis of knowledge against Canadian standards
Links to learning material and institutions to upgrade knowledge and skills
Links to pre-and post-arrival services, including settlement services, immigration support, financial assistance
Job search support and links to career websites
The Follow-up
Just recently, the CWB and Enable Education collaborated again, this time to assist Ukrainians who have entered Canada suddenly, or who are looking to resettle in Canada. Continuing our partnership with the CWB, our web team worked to launch the already bilingual Welder Competency and Credential Assessment (WCCA) in Ukrainian.
In response to the growing number of refugees from Ukraine, the CWB recognized the need for a Ukrainian translation of the assessment.
Enable Education has been pleased to support this initiative to assist Ukrainian trained welders who have come to Canada to easily transition and apply their skills, qualifications, and credentials, to align with Canadian provincial requirements.
