CONSULTATION 5
Industrial andManufacturingSector
The final consultation involved the industrial andmanufacturing sector, drawing participants in fields ranging from
automotivemanufacturing, to green energy, to distilling and agri-businesses, operating in arenas from the local to
the global. Sixty participants attended.
Participants in this consultation viewed the future of Windsor positively in terms of opportunity and innovation, but
also noted that it can be difficult to attract a skilledworkforce in the region, which stymies growth and innovation.
Communication, collaboration, leadership, creativity, and critical thinking skills, as well as flexibility, were identified
as particularly important outcomes of university education.
There was considerable discussion of the appropriate balance between technical expertise and soft skills for
employability in this sector. Many noted that while technical training was important, the ability to communicate,
think critically, work in teams, and lead others were more fundamental: technical skills could be acquired on the
job. Others noted that practical skills – readiness to “get your hands dirty” and applymechanical knowledge in real
settings, appeared to be more evident in engineers trained internationally through programs with apprenticeship
components. One way to enhance this readiness might be through a “concurrent” education model: students
would receive both a college diploma and a university degree. Some entrepreneurs noted that marketing and
communications skills combined with an understanding of engineering is valuable and difficult to find. For those
beginning careers in startups, a high degree of flexibility and creativity is necessary – overspecializationmay narrow
opportunities. Curiosity, the ability to assess scientific claims, and greater independence in undertaking projects
Report onCommunityConsultations:Winter 2017
