Frequently Asked Questions about Training

Western has transitioned all safety training and Western Human Resources managed professional learning from OWL Sakai to OWL Brightspace to provide a more modern, accessible, and mobile friendly experience. Access to OWL Sakai for the Western community will be removed on April 30, 2026.

All Western Human Resources managed training moved to OWL Brightspace on Monday, March 23, 2026. Employees no longer have access to HR training in OWL Sakai.

Access to HR training sites in OWL Sakai ended on March 19, 2026. Employees who wished to keep materials should have downloaded them before that date. OWL Sakai content is no longer accessible. For questions about course materials contact Western Human Resources at hr-training@uwo.ca.

You will be automatically enrolled in all required training on OWL Brightspace that is required for all roles at Western.

Recommended, or role-specific courses can be accessed by self-enrolling in My Human Resources. You will receive an email notification once the course site is available on Brightspace.

Recommended and role-specific health and safety courses require self-enrollment. You can enroll by signing in to My Human Resources and choosing one of the following options:

• Enroll in Safety eLearning (self-directed health and safety training)
• Enroll in Workshops (instructor-led sessions, in-person and virtual)
• Enroll in eLearning (self-directed employee professional development)

Course(s) will not appear in OWL Brightspace immediately after you enroll. You will receive an email notification once you have been added to the Brightspace course site.

After you enroll in My Human Resources, your course will appear in OWL Brightspace at the next scheduled enrollment update time. You will receive an email notification once you have been added to the Brightspace course site.

If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, log in to OWL Brightspace and select “HR Training” to locate your course.

If the course(s) do not appear, please contact Western Human Resources at hr-training@uwo.ca for assistance.

You will receive an email notification once you have been added to the Brightspace course site. If the course(s) do not appear after 24 hours, please contact Western Human Resources at hr-training@uwo.ca for assistance.

You will receive an email notification once you have been added to the Brightspace course site. To appear at an update time, you must enroll at least two hours before that update. If you enroll less than two hours before an update time, your course will be added during the next scheduled update. Courses enrolled after 5:00 p.m. will appear in OWL Brightspace the next day at 7:00 a.m.

Yes, all completed course records and your training history remain available under:

My Human Resources → Training → My Training Summary

The summary has been redesigned for easier reviewing and printing and now replaces the certificates that were previously generated in OWL Sakai.

Incomplete courses or quizzes from OWL Sakai did not move over during the transition. If you didn’t finish before March 19, 2026, you can simply enroll through My Human Resources. The course will then appear in OWL Brightspace after the next scheduled course update time.

No, Western training is available only to individuals who are employed by or formally affiliated with Western and have a record in My Human Resources. This includes staff, faculty, graduate students, Associated Persons (such as volunteers), and undergraduate students who require training for specific academic programs or courses (e.g., 4th year thesis, Nursing).

For full details, please see Who Can Access Training.

You can begin your training a few days after your record has been created in My Human Resources. This happens once your department has fully completed the required appointment paperwork or online hiring processes. After your record is active, training access will be available within a few days.

For more details, please see Who Can Access Training.

The Required and Recommended Training Checklist outlines required and suggested safety training. Employees should review it with their supervisor or leader to confirm accuracy and compliance.

Yes. All required courses are now automatically assigned in OWL Brightspace.

Yes, optional, developmental learning, and role-specific safety courses must be self-enrolled through My Human Resources.

Yes, even if your previous training covered related topics, you are required to complete Western’s training. Western’s courses include institution specific policies, processes, services, and resources that are not addressed in external training programs.

Use the Required and Recommended Training Checklist to determine whether you should complete the Worker or Supervisor version of Health and Safety Awareness training.

After reviewing the checklist, you can also visit the Required Training webpage and expand the course descriptions for additional guidance under “Which Version” and “Who Should Participate.”

Please confirm your training with your leader/supervisor.

Completion records are available in My Human Resources → My Training Summary.

The downloadable PDF has a refreshed layout and replaces the former OWL generated certificates.

No, as of March 23, 2026, certificates are no longer issued through OWL Brightspace. Your Training Summary in My Human Resources replaces all certificates.

Completion results do not appear instantly. They will be added to your Training Summary after the next scheduled update time. Check the update schedule to find out when your results will be available.

Yes, some training such as WHMIS expires. Employees should review their records in My Human Resources → My Training Summary for upcoming expirations.

Yes. Graduate students, work study students, and students participating in labs, academic programs, or clinical placements may require safety training. Requirements vary by program and role.

Some students who also work (or previously worked) at Western may have both a student user ID and an employee user ID.

• If you are currently active in an employee role, use your employee user ID and password to access training.
• If you are no longer active as an employee, use ASK HR to contact Human Resources to determine whether your old employee record can be merged or converted to your student number. Please include your full name, Student Number, and your previous employee User ID (if known).

To access Required Training, you must have an active appointment in My Human Resources (as either an Employee or an Associated Person). If you do not have an active appointment, the system will not allow you to access or complete training.

If a student requires training for a reason other than an active appointment—for example, volunteering at an event or completing training for a course—they can still be granted access. Please use Ask HR to contact Human Resources.

Most students are set up under a student number and can log in using the student User ID and password associated with Western’s student systems.

Some students also have an older employee account with a different User ID and password. In these cases, the employee login must be used to access My Human Resources.

After your My Human Resources profile is created, there is a processing delay of up to two business days before training access becomes available.

Annual timing note: Each year, students are set up in My Human Resources after August 15. You will be able to access your Required Training one to two days after your My Human Resources setup is completed.

For questions about which courses you need or help with enrollment, contact Western Human Resources at hr-training@uwo.ca.

For login issues, course access problems, or navigation help, contact OWL Brightspace Help.