Upskilling Program for Inclusive Excellence
Discovery. Connection. Community:
Upgrade Your Skills at SCS.
The Upskilling Program for Inclusive Excellence (UPIE) is a national initiative led by the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) that empowers Black Canadians to advance in today’s dynamic professional landscape. Made possible through a generous gift from TD Bank Group, UPIE provides free targeted training, personalized career support, and meaningful mentorship designed to build long-term economic mobility.
The application period for the next cohort opens on February 2nd, 2026! Join the free information session on Wednesday, February 4th 2026 at 1 pm EST to learn more. To register for the information session, please visit the following link.
About the program
The program provides participants with the opportunity to build in-demand skills, practical tools, and valuable network connections to strengthen their career readiness to achieve their professional goals with confidence. The UPIE program will include four (4) important components:
| 1. Career Transition Support | 2. Financial Support | 3. Coaching and Mentoring | 4. Personalized Upskilling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants will access job readiness activities designed to enhance understanding of their core skills, competencies, and strengths. These services are intended to build confidence in articulating professional experiences and capabilities. | Allocated funding will provide wraparound financial assistance to help offset costs such as childcare, professional attire, transportation, and technology. Additional support is designated for travel to three in-person events. | Participants will receive career and life guidance from professionals and leaders across various sectors. An advisory group of senior Black professionals will assist in identifying and recruiting mentors from relevant industries. | Participants, with support from program staff, will have the option to receive assessments to better understand the equivalency of their past education/credentials, and assessments from our English Language Program to better understand their professional language proficiency. Participants will build their transferable skills by successfully completing micro-credentials and other SCS courses. |
Important Note: While UPIE offers robust professional development and guidance, job placements are not offered as part of this program. This program focuses on helping participants navigate their career paths, expand their opportunities, and pursue their professional goals with greater agency and support.
The program is organized into three stages:
Stage A
Optional educational credential assessment and English language proficiency testing. All Participants will complete the CliftonStrengths assessment, Career Wayfinding Workshops, and a one-on-one career coaching session.
Stage B
Focused on professional development, this stage includes: a networking workshop, up to three micro-credentials, mentorship from industry leaders, and a second one-on-one coaching session to support strategic planning.
Stage C
Participants will receive funding to enroll in SCS courses aligned with individual career goals. This stage includes participation in a Job Fair to connect with potential employers and network with other Black professionals.
Eligibility Criteria
- Minimum age of 25 years by Dec. 31, 2026
- Self-identification as a Black Canadian, including:
- Canadian Citizens
- Canadian Permanent Residents
- Protected Persons
- Status of being unemployed for up to 3 years or currently underemployed (i.e. you possess higher knowledge, skills, and abilities than required for your current position/job)
- Living in one of the following regions/counties: Brant, Durham, Guelph, Haldimand, Halton, Hamilton, Kawartha Lakes, Niagara, Northumberland, Peel, Peterborough, Simcoe, Toronto, Waterloo, Wellington, and York.
English Language Proficiency
A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 in English is recommended. This level reflects an intermediate level of English proficiency, where individuals can understand and communicate effectively in everyday situations, including work and community settings. At this level, individuals can understand moderately complex authentic social messages, business texts, and reference sources, and they can also produce simple business correspondence and routine paragraphs. Finally, they can also adapt their speech to reflect different levels of formality and utilize some idioms and cultural references.
Time commitment
The program is delivered over one (1) year on a part-time basis, between May 2026 to April 2027, with approximately 95% of the program activities delivered online offered during both daytime and evening hours. There will also be in-person events required for this program and the details will be shared well in advance for participants to make arrangements to join.
To fully benefit from what this program has to offer, it is expected that participants are prepared to dedicate at least between eight (8) to ten (10) hours per week to participate in classes and program-related activities. You may feel you require more time each week depending on the courses you chose throughout the duration of the program.
How to apply to this program
Applicants must submit the following:
- Completed application form with eligibility information
- Statement of interest
- Updated résumé
- Reference letter
Program funding is limited and not guaranteed. Applications will be reviewed by an Awards Committee, with decisions based on program criteria and available funding. Selected applicants will be notified via email within 2–3 weeks of submission.
Program Cost
This program was developed as a result of a generous donation from TD Bank Group to the University of Toronto. As such, tuition for this program is fully covered for the selected successful applicants. Please note that funding received is considered a taxable benefit, and a T4A slip will be issued by the University of Toronto.
Important Dates
- Application Period: February 2, 2026 – March 8 (11:59PM), 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: Week of March 23, 2026
- Program Duration: May 2026 – April 2027