The Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement (CADIA), has recognized Vancouver Community College with a certification for its Transportation Trades program, the college announced this week. CADIA is an organization based in Detroit that aims to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) tools for groups in the automotive industry.
Canadian auto dealer spoke with Brett Griffith’s, VCC’s Dean, School of Trades, Technology, and Design. “When the opportunity to attain CADIA certification came up, we thought it was an excellent chance to showcase the Transportation Trades program commitment to EDI.”
Griffith’s said that the certification covers goals for the whole Transportation Trades program. “It’s about our students and staff, and faculty. CADIA prompted us to create EDI resources that we’re going to leverage with time, because they’re specific to this industry. The hope is that there’s going to be additional buy-in around equity, diversity, and inclusion from both students and from staff and faculty.
“VCC has an incredibly diverse student population, and transportation trades is no exception,” said Griffiths. “Attaining CADIA certification is symbolic of our school’s commitment to ensuring that VCC is a place for learners of all walks of life to receive the skills and training they need to succeed in their chosen profession.”
Ajay Patel is VCC’s President and CEO. “For equity-deserving groups, VCC strives to create a learning environment that is welcoming and inclusive for everyone,” he said. “In addition, we know that skilled workers in automotive trades are in high demand, and it just makes sense from the college’s sustainability standpoint that barriers are removed so all students can receive the high-quality, hands-on education that they expect from VCC.”
Dealerships would do well to look into this certification, said Griffiths, as the competition for qualified technicians becomes more intense. “It’s already very hard to recruit and retain people. Oftentimes my observation has been if people can’t see themselves in that role or they aren’t represented in it, and there’s no examples of people like them, they aren’t interested in that company. If you fill these roles with people that are different from the traditional automotive technicians, service advisors or managers, you will attract more qualified workers, and you will keep them.”
