Media Advisory - 2nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit: Developing the skills and PSE strategy for Canada

TORONTO, Nov. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - From November 5 to 6, 2014, The Conference Board of Canada's 2^nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit will be held in Toronto. Experts in post-secondary education and skills from across Canada  will discuss a strategy for skills and PSE that meets the rapidly changing demands of employers while also fulfilling society's broader knowledge, learning and citizenship ideals. On November 6, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will deliver the closing keynote address and participate in a discussion with delegates.

Advanced skills and educational qualifications are increasingly important to innovation, productivity, economic growth and competitiveness, as Canadian firms face off against the global best in international and domestic markets.

To address this need, The Conference Board of Canada is hosting a major two-day Summit to explore the current and emerging challenges of higher education—including colleges, universities, apprenticeship and trades training.

The Conference Board will also present the latest research findings from the Centre for Skills and Post-Secondary Education (SPSE) on the economic impact of Post-Secondary Education in Canada at the Summit. Dr. Michael Bloom, Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy and Diana MacKay, Executive Director, Centre for Skills and PSE will be available to the media throughout the Summit.

When:	November 5-6, 2014
Where:	Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Who:	Speakers include:
	His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston – Governor General of Canada
	Dr. Michael R. Bloom – Vice-President, Industry and Business Strategy The Conference Board of Canada
	Dr. Robert J. Birgeneau - Chancellor Emeritus; Arnold and Barbara Silverman Distinguished Professor of Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, and Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley
	Robert Hardt- President and Chief Executive Officer Siemens Canada Limited
	Sarah Anson-Cartwright – Director, Skills Policy The Canadian Chamber of Commerce
	Denise Amyot - President and Chief Executive Officer Colleges and Institutes Canada
	Donna Quan – Director of Education, Toronto District School Board
	Dr. Carl G. Amrhein - Provost and Vice-President (Academic) University of Alberta

The 2^nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit 2014 is presented in partnership with sponsors Max Bell Foundation, Cisco Canada, Pearson Canada, Centre of Excellence in Financial Services Education, Canadian Council for Chief Executives, Ryerson University, Tribal Group, Canadian Association of Co-operative Education, University of Victoria and Data on the Spot, among many others.

For the full schedule and times visit:
http://www.conferenceboard.ca/conf/education/agenda.aspx

Follow the 2^nd Skills and Post-Secondary Education Summit on Twitter with the hashtag #CBoCEducation

SOURCE: Conference Board of Canada

or media accreditation, contact: Yvonne Squires, Tel.: [phone], ext. 221. E-mail: [email protected]