OVIN — Content Partnerships Program

The OVIN Content Partnerships Program provides financial support to eligible applicants for developing micro-credentials tailored to the automotive and mobility sector in Ontario. The program offers structured funding options depending on the scope and language of the content developed.

• Applicants can receive up to $50,000 for developing one or more micro-credentials.
• Award of up to $100,000 is available to applicants developing at least four inter-connected micro-credentials in both English and French.
• Funding is designated to support the development of content that meets the expectations of the program and exceeds basic requirements.

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and their collaboration with industry partners.

• The applicant must be an accredited Ontario-based post-secondary education institution.
• Alternatively, the applicant may be another accredited institution creating micro-credentials or other courses.
• Ontario-based non-profit organizations that run sector-relevant education programs for the automotive and mobility workforce in Ontario are also eligible to apply.

Who is eligible?

Who is not eligible

This grant is primarily aimed at accredited institutions and non-profit organizations involved in developing sector-relevant educational programs. Industrial restrictions ensure alignment with the program objectives of upskilling the Ontario automotive and mobility workforce.

• For-profit corporations that are not involved in education development.
• Organizations outside of Ontario.
• Entities not capable of collaborating with industry partners to validate micro-credentials.
• Businesses lacking an automotive or mobility focus.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports the development of micro-credential content relevant to the automotive and mobility sectors in Ontario. Eligible projects aim to enhance workforce skills through targeted educational programs aligned with industry needs.

• Development of new micro-credentials tailored to the automotive and mobility sector, focusing on electrification and relevant skills.
• Modification of existing automotive and mobility-related content to align with current industry needs and standards.
• Creation of content to support new online learners in the automotive and mobility fields, ensuring accessibility and diversity.
• Conducting industry surveys and validations to ensure the relevance and impact of micro-credential content.
• Engagement with industry partners and advisory committees to guide the content development process.
• Development of final reports detailing frameworks, gaps, and accreditation guidelines for automotive training programs.

Eligible geographic areas

Eligible organizations applying for this grant must be based in Ontario. This requirement is in place to enhance and support the local automotive and mobility sector as part of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network’s objectives.

• Organizations located in Ontario, Canada.

The evaluation and selection of projects for OVIN’s Content Partnerships Program are based on the criteria that ensure the proposed micro-credentials align with the program’s objectives and industry needs.

• Relevance and alignment to specific skills and competencies required by the automotive and mobility industry.
• Demonstrated need for the micro-credential through industry validation, including surveys and partner feedback.
• Incorporation of equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations in content development.
• Potential impact on the Ontario automotive and mobility workforce, including projected upskilling outcomes for a defined number of employees.
• Demonstrated use of OVIN’s Talent Strategy & Roadmap and Labour Market Data to inform design.
• Innovative approaches to content development and delivery that consider diverse learning styles and accessibility needs.
• Feasibility of implementing four inter-connected micro-credentials, if applicable, and the proposal's capacity to manage this scope effectively.
• Effectiveness of partnership engagement, and industry advisory committee input in the micro-credential development.
• Measurable against reported skills gaps, illustrating how the education will bridge current workforce challenges.

Miscellaneous information about the grant includes a variety of details ranging from eligible expenditures to monitoring and evaluation requirements.

• Costs directly attributable to the construction and necessary for the project completion are eligible.
• Salaries and statutory benefits for program support staff not exceeding $5,000 per month are eligible.
• Salaries must be claimed proportionally to the amount of time spent on project activities.
• Travel expenses must represent the most economical option and be project-related.
• Professional services such as consultant fees, audit, and insurance that assist in achieving the objectives are eligible.
• Costs not directly associated with meeting deliverables, such as ongoing production costs and personal expenses, are ineligible.
• Stream One focuses on Electrification and requires skills related to battery and charging technologies among others.
• Stream Two involves modifying existing automotive and mobility-related content for micro-credentials.
• Stream Three supports topics to set up members for success in online learning environments.
• Recommendations for course content updates should ensure relevance and implementation flexibility.
• Intellectual Property (IP) developed under the program will be owned by Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI) or licensed to OCI.
• Program outcomes must include data collection strategies and measure satisfaction, mastery of skills, and industry engagement.