The document summarizes a presentation about a project called DESIGI that was aimed at developing essential skills in the gaming/casino industry in Canada. It provides an overview of the project's goals, outcomes, funding sources, research conducted, and tools/resources created including essential skills profiles, manuals, and a website. The project was funded by the federal government over two years to research essential skills needs in the industry and create free downloadable training resources to help employees and employers.

1. DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL SKILLS IN
THE GAMING/CASINO INDUSTRY
DAYNA HINKEL
Business Development Officer
Canadian Gaming Centre of Excellence
Monday, April 18, 2011
2:45 pm – 3:35 pm

2. AGENDA
• The Canadian Gaming Centre of
Excellence
• Essential Skills
• DESIGI Project Overview
• Project Outcomes
• How are the Website
& Tools Useful?
• Next Steps

3. Canadian Gaming Centre of
Excellence (CGCE)
The CGCE offers:
• High quality development tools and
training events designed specifically
for the casino and gaming industry
– Canadian Gaming Education Forum
– E-Learning Customer Service program
– Developing Essential Skills in the
Gaming/Casino Industry Project

4. Essential Skills
Essential Skills are the skills that
people need for work, learning and life.

5. Essential Skills
The Nine Essential Skills are:
– Reading Text
– Document Use
– Numeracy
– Writing
– Oral Communication
– Working With Others
– Continuous Learning
– Thinking Skills
– Computer Use

6. DESIGI Project Overview
Rationale:
• To increase the essential skills level of
current/prospective gaming employees across
Canada
• Highlight on developing tools and resources
for use by individuals, job assistance
organizations, and gaming/casinos
• Focus on development for Aboriginal and new
Canadians for the gaming industry

7. DESIGI Project Overview
Funding:
• 2 year project (April 2009 – April 2011)
• Federal government: $495,000
• Total (including in-kind contributions):
$720,000

8. DESIGI Project Overview
National Committee
National report on
To be done at
Advisory ES in the Gaming
project completion
Project Committee Research Industry
Evaluation Study
Highlight skills
for gaming 56 completed
Essential
careers, free Website
DESIGI Skills ES Gaming
downloadable PROJECT Profiles profiles
resources
(English &
French) ES 7 ES manuals/
ES Gaming
Specialists Curriculum
Pilot teachers guides
9 trained Program
Essential Skills
Gaming Specialists Curriculum review in
Manitoba

9. DESIGI PROJECT
OUTCOMES
• National Advisory Committee
• Research Report
• Gaming Essential Skills profiles
• Essential Skills manuals
• DESIGI website

10. National Advisory
Committee

11. Research Report/Findings:
Three Areas of Focus:
• Essential Skills – Frontline Level
• General Skills Training in Gaming
• Senior Level Skill Requirements
Tools:
• Surveys
– Job placement agencies
– ES Skills from Organizational perspective
– ES Skills from Frontline perspective
• Focus Groups
– 8 across Canada

12. Research Report/Findings:
• Job Placement agencies wanted more info on
gaming/ casino positions and ES required
• Planned organizational changes in the next 5 yrs will
require increased Essential Skills in gaming/casino
employees
• over 89% said they had staff that would benefit from
improved reading, writing and math skills

13. Research Report/Findings:
• Most important on the front line are Thinking Skills,
Working with Others and Oral Communication
• 78% said employee’s reduced communication had a
negative impact on productivity
• Aboriginals and new Canadians appear to be faced
with greater challenges in being included in the
succession planning process
• Clear desire for Leadership Development training in
the gaming casino field

14. Job Families

15. Essential Skills Profiles
56 Essential Skills Position Profiles:
• Describes how each essential skill is actually
used by workers in one of 11 Job Families
• For each Essential Skill, a profile generally
contains:
– Complexity ratings that indicate the level of
difficulty of the tasks related to that skill
– Examples that illustrate how that skill is
actually used

16. Essential Skills
Manuals
7 Essential Skills Manuals:

17. Website
• Exciting one-stop-shop
• Free downloadable
resources
• Will have English and
French
www.gamingcentreofexcellence.ca/essentialskills/

18. Who Can Use These Tools
• Human Resource professionals
• Organizational Development
• Casino Managers
• Training professionals
• Employment agencies
• Gaming/casino employees
• Potential gaming/casino employees

19. Next Steps
• DESIGI Phase II
• Health & Safety component
• Website Enhancement
• ES Assessment tool
• Building Inclusion - Multicultural
Approaches to Customer Service in the
Gaming/Casino Industry

20. Gaming & Casino
Leadership Program

21. Questions