Specialist High Skills Major

(SHSM)

A specialized high school program that allows grade 11/12 students to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and focus their learning on gaining sector-specific skills.

The SHSM–Manufacturing enables students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace. Students are exposed to a wide variety of careers in the manufacturing sector, from broad areas such as programming, operation, service, and repair to more specific areas such as robotics and advanced manufacturing.

Industry 4.0 technologies will reshape the industry workforce

Today’s workforce needs training in the latest technological skills to design and build the more complex products in demand today.

These more intelligent, sustainable, and customizable products will require manufacturing professionals to have a deep understanding of technology including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), integrated software platforms, robotics, and additive manufacturing to improve decision-making and production processes.

Industry 4.0 technologies will require new skills for

Mechanical Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and CNC Machinists.

What are the Industry 4.0 skills gaps?

To prepare mechanical engineers, manufacturing engineers, and CNC machinists for the Industry 4.0 workforce, they must learn the hard, soft, and interdisciplinary skills to close the gaps for each job.

These three positions will interact with each other at more points across the design and manufacturing process and require a wider range of interdisciplinary skills and knowledge to work with the different manufacturing functions.

What is Educations Role?

Manufacturing educators can take a comprehensive view of the industry’s current needs and adopt new pedagogies that teach:

  • Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing knowledge

  • Technologies, and skills with real-world hands-on learning content.

  • Strategies towards reducing the “time to talent” and support graduates obtaining credentials

Required Components for the SHSM–Manufacturing

Components of a Manufacturing SHSM

Each SHSM consists of five required components:

  1. Bundle of creditsA defined bundle of credits consisting of eight to ten Grade 11 and Grade 12 credits, including cooperative education credits
  2. Certification and training experiencesSector-recognized certifications and/or training 
  3. Experiential learning and career exploration activitiesExperiential learning and career exploration activities within the sector
  4. Reach ahead experiencesLearning experiences connected with the student’s postsecondary plans
  5. Sector-partnered experiencesExperiences in which students engage with a sector partner to explore sector-related content, skills, and knowledge involving either ICE (innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship), coding, or mathematical literacy.