CWB Group's national welding program seeks to bridge skills gap, attract youth

The CWB Group, Canada's national welding certification body, has launched the Acorn national welding program in Canada. The program incorporates education, training, and assessment to create the highly skilled, in-demand welders, fitters, supervisors, inspectors, and engineers Canada needs.

The program will provide existing welders with the training employers are demanding, and it will give high school-age youth hands-on experience they can apply toward careers in the welding industry. It uses such current tools as 3-D printing, a mobile app, and textbooks with augmented reality to help ensure students remain engaged and get the best possible education, the organization reports.