Saskatchewan Polytechnic, along with the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery and the Quick Train Canada Program, are offering a number of tuition-free micro-credential courses. 

The courses provided focus on supporting a clean, low-carbon economy.  

“The Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, known as C2R2, aims to train 10,000 learners through these micro-credentials, providing current workers with opportunities to reduce barriers, gain new skills, and create a national framework and skill development,” said Ann Reinhart, senior project manager for Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s School of Continuing Education. 

Some of the micro-credentials being offered include: 

  • LEAD 118: Indigenous Business and Entrepreneurship 
  • Aquatic Ecology 
  • Biomass Handling 
  • Biomass Production: Raw Material 
  • Biomass Storage 
  • Biomass Supply Chain 
  • Business Decision-Making and Green Solutions 
  • Data Analysis and Answering the What-If Questions 
  • Drones in Agriculture 
  • Ecology, Biology and Saskatchewan Wildlife Management 
  • Elements of Ecology 
  • EV Battery Fundamentals and Storage 
  • Farming Using Smart Technology 
  • GPS Basics 
  • GPS Influence on Green Economy 
  • IOT Data Acquisition and Storage 
  • Machine Monitoring and Maintenance Scheduling 
  • Mapping and Compassing 
  • Net Zero Transformation: Smart Systems for Green Businesses 
  • Our Hidden Treasure: Understanding The Watershed and Fresh Water Supply 
  • Sensors for Agriculture 
  • Software for Agriculture Data Analysis 
  • The GIS Impact 
  • The Green Economy and Automation, Driverless Vehicles, and Remote Sensors 
  • Understanding Electronic Vehicles 
  • Wildlife Management Field Techniques 

Micro-credentials are programs that take, on average, about 15 hours to complete. 

The programs are open to all Canadian citizens or permanent residents and most courses are offered online, while there may be some in-person instruction. 

Reinhart noted that eight of the micro-credentials focus on precision farming and the agricultural sector. 

“So, anything like smart technology, IOT, machine monitoring, maintenance, scheduling, drones, all those kind of cool ideas and they are micro-credentials that are designed to help upskill and re-skill Canadians, especially in the farming industry,” she said. 

If you are thinking of signing up for a course or two, you will have to hurry. The courses will be offered tuition-free only until March 31. 

“We know the funding is available until March 31, 2024, and then we’ll have to determine if there will be a fee or what the plan is after that,” Reinhart said. 

The micro-credentials are fully funded by the Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery and the Government of Canada. 

To learn more about these courses or to sign up, click here.