Wemimo Odjede 

Second Year Journalism and Communications student and 
Intern with Holland College Marketing and Communications department 

Registration is now open for Holland College’s new Food Manufacturing Fundamentals Microcredential. The fully-funded training is part of the Quick Train Canada project which will see the college establish several new short courses aimed at helping workers develop the skills needed to work in a green economy.  

Food Manufacturing Fundamentals will provide participants with three weeks of in-person classroom training and three weeks of full-time work-integrated learning/on-the-job training. It is designed for people who are interested in developing workplace skills to enhance their employability and competency for a new career in food processing and packaging. 

Participants will develop fundamental skills and knowledge in problem-solving and critical thinking, communication, documentation, good manufacturing practices, and operating common manufacturing equipment. The training also includes certification in Emergency First Aid, Forklift Safety and WHMIS. Upon completing the training, participants will earn a microcredential and digital badge which is part of their academic record.  

Industry Liaison Officer Marloes Van der Leeuw says there is strong demand for this training due to the labour shortages faced by the food processing and packaging industry. The food processing and packaging environment requires skilled production-level workers to safely and comfortably operate in an increasingly automated facility. 
 
“The purpose of the job placement is to create a workplace experience, and the hope is that the training will start them off in their career in food manufacturing. Through this work-integrated learning, participants will gain practical experience and build connections in the industry”, says Van der Leeuw. 

All Quick Train Canada courses are fully-funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. Additional funding has been acquired through the Canada-PEI Labour Market Agreement to provide a learning stipend for eligible participants who are unemployed or underemployed (working less than 25h per week). 

Van der Leeuw says, “We are very excited to be able to offer this learning stipend to reduce the costs associated with obtaining the skills to work in the industry. The stipend will be available for the six-week duration of the training to support participants while upgrading their skills for new career opportunities.”

Food Manufacturing Fundamental’s training begins May 1 in Charlottetown on the Holland College Prince of Wales Campus.

To register or get more information about the training, visit the webpage or email customizedtraining@hollandcollege.com  

An open house is scheduled for April 18 for anyone interested in learning more about the training. The event will start at 6:30 pm in Room 132 in the Centre for Applied Science and Technology, Prince of Wales Campus, Charlottetown.