CERIC to fund project on building internal career development centres

CERIC is pleased to announce funding for a new project titled “Empowering Organizations Through Career Development – A Blueprint for Creating Career Development Centres of Expertise,” led by Challenge Factory in partnership with the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE). This is the first project awarded through CERIC’s new open funding call for research and learning initiatives. 

The project will explore how organizations can establish internal “career centres of expertise” to support employee mobility, workforce resilience and talent retention. Through a practical playbook and workshop, the initiative will help HR leaders and senior executives understand how to embed career development strategies within their organizations. The tools will guide decision-makers in assessing organizational readiness, building business cases and identifying opportunities to collaborate with career development professionals (CDPs). 

As Canadian employers navigate labour shortages, shifting employee expectations and growing pressure to invest in talent development, many are seeking internal solutions. While internal career centres are emerging as a promising strategy, organizations often lack clear guidance or involvement from the career development field. This project bridges that gap by connecting career professionals with employers to co-create scalable, evidence-informed approaches rooted in national best practices. 

Shifting away from a “fail-first” model 

The initiative also shifts away from the prevailing “fail-first” model – where career support is accessed only after job loss – toward a proactive approach grounded in engagement and growth. Research shows career development drives higher retention, stronger engagement and improved mental well-being, particularly as organizations recognize the ongoing need to reskill employees through constant change. 

Career development in many organizations remains siloed, offered only to specific segments like new graduates or leadership streams, or accessed reactively through outplacement. This reinforces the notion that support is needed only during crisis or job loss. By contrast, this initiative encourages enterprise-wide systems that embed CDP expertise across the employee lifecycle, positioning career development as both a measurable business benefit and societal priority while strengthening organizational infrastructure and supporting workforce stability at scale. 

Challenge Factory, a research and advisory firm with extensive expertise in career development, workforce strategy and leadership, will lead the project. The initiative builds on CERIC’s past collaboration with Challenge Factory, including the Retain and Gain series, and incorporates learnings from CERIC-funded projects like Hidden Sector, Hidden Talent and Career Development in 2040. 

The project is expected to conclude in January 2026, with findings shared at Cannexus, Canada’s largest career development conference. 

Through this project, CERIC continues promoting career development as a public good, strengthening employers’ capacity to support their workforce while elevating career professionals’ role in shaping future-ready organizations. The initiative builds career development knowledge within workplaces by equipping employers with concepts and tools they may not otherwise access and nurtures a stronger career mindset by encouraging leaders to view employee growth as essential to organizational success. 

Next open funding call 

CERIC received 29 proposals through its inaugural open call, reflecting a strong appetite for timely, relevant and actionable career development knowledge. The submissions represented diverse ideas aimed at advancing the field through innovative research and education. The redesigned open call process offers two application windows annually with a more streamlined experience, improving access through defined submission periods and ensuring equitable consideration of all proposals. Anyone who submitted to the first round is welcome to resubmit. 

The second open call opens Aug. 5 and remains open until Sept. 2. Learn more about CERIC’s funding process, including FAQ, past funded projects and funding guidelines.