New $1M Program Aims to Forge Canada's Next Digital Leaders

TORONTO, ON – April 28, 2026 – The Schulich School of Business at York University and global IT consulting firm CGI are launching a major new initiative to cultivate Canada’s next generation of technology leaders, backed by a $1 million investment from CGI. The partners today unveiled the CGI Certificate in Enterprise Systems Development, an eight-month program designed to bridge a critical skills gap in the nation's burgeoning digital economy.

Leveraging artificial intelligence tools and hands-on learning, the certificate aims to prepare business professionals, recent graduates, and career changers for high-demand roles in enterprise IT environments. Notably, the program is designed to be accessible to individuals with no prior coding experience, creating a new and vital pathway into the technology sector.

This collaboration arrives as both institutions celebrate significant milestones—Schulich its 60th anniversary and CGI its 50th year in business—marking a shared commitment to addressing challenges crucial to Canada's future economic competitiveness.

Confronting a National Skills Deficit

The announcement comes at a time when Canadian businesses are grappling with a severe and persistent digital talent shortage. While Canada's tech workforce is projected to reach 1.46 million in 2025, a significant imbalance exists between the skills companies need and the talent available. Recent industry reports paint a stark picture of this gap, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence.

A 2026 report from staffing firm Robert Half found that while nearly half of Canadian technology hiring managers plan to increase staff, an overwhelming 69% believe upskilling their current employees is essential to meet business goals. The most significant skills gaps identified were in AI and machine learning, IT governance, and IT operations—areas the new Schulich-CGI certificate directly targets. Similarly, a Deloitte Canada study revealed that almost half of Canadian executives feel their staff are not adequately prepared to leverage AI, citing talent as the primary barrier to adoption.

“Sustaining Canada’s competitiveness depends on continually developing the next generation of talent with advanced digital and AI expertise,” said Steve Starace, CGI’s Chief Human Resources Officer, in a statement. “By combining academic excellence with real-world industry insight, this program will help prepare professionals to contribute meaningfully to Canada’s digital economy from day one.”

The initiative is positioned not just as a training program, but as a strategic intervention designed to bolster Canada's innovation capacity and close a productivity gap that threatens its position in the global technology landscape.

A New Pathway to In-Demand Tech Careers

Designed to be intensely practical, the eight-month certificate program will immerse participants in the core competencies required by modern technology organizations. The curriculum covers programming fundamentals, AI-enabled system integration, DevOps practices, cybersecurity, and large-scale enterprise IT operations. This curriculum directly maps to some of the most sought-after and rapidly growing roles in the Canadian job market, including AI architects, DevOps engineers, and cybersecurity specialists.

A key feature of the program is a capstone project where participants will tackle real-world IT challenges, applying their newly acquired skills in a simulated, complex technology environment. This hands-on approach is intended to ensure graduates are not just theoretically knowledgeable but practically prepared for the workplace.

“Modern enterprises are not simply writing code – they’re building and operating complex digital platforms that integrate cloud infrastructure, AI capabilities, cybersecurity, and large-scale data systems,” explained Murat Kristal, Executive Director of Schulich’s Institute of Digital Business. “This certificate was designed with CGI to help participants understand how these components come together inside world-class IT organizations.”

The program's accessibility to individuals without a technical background is a deliberate strategy to broaden the talent pool. By removing the traditional barrier of a computer science degree, Schulich and CGI aim to attract diverse talent from various professional and academic fields, fostering a new generation of leaders who can blend business acumen with technical proficiency.

Redefining Industry-Academia Collaboration

This partnership represents a deeper, more integrated model of collaboration than traditional corporate sponsorships in higher education. CGI's $1 million investment is coupled with direct involvement from its industry experts, who will provide guidance and insight throughout the program. This co-design approach ensures the curriculum remains agile, relevant, and aligned with the immediate needs of the industry.

“Thanks to our partnership with CGI, Schulich is delivering applied, cutting-edge education that prepares professionals to succeed in enterprise IT environments,” said Detlev Zwick, Dean of the Schulich School of Business. “This Certificate will help close critical skills gaps in the marketplace and open new career opportunities for our students.”

While other Canadian universities offer certificates in AI and digital skills, the Schulich-CGI initiative stands out for its specific focus on enterprise systems and the depth of its corporate integration. This model reflects a growing trend where businesses are taking a more active role in shaping the talent pipeline.

For CGI, this investment aligns with a broader global strategy focused on AI leadership. The company recently announced a new AI Center of Excellence in Portugal and has expanded its partnerships with technology giants like OpenAI and Amazon Web Services to accelerate AI innovation. This Canadian initiative is a key part of that global vision, aimed at building a workforce capable of designing and deploying the complex AI-driven systems of the future.

The certificate will be delivered through Schulich’s newly established Institute of Digital Business, a hub created to strengthen Canada's capacity to navigate rapid digital change. By working closely with industry leaders like CGI, the institute aims to develop highly skilled talent ready for the AI-powered economy.

Applications for the inaugural cohort, which begins in the fall of 2026, are now open, signaling an urgent and immediate effort to begin filling the talent pipeline.