Successful Crossing: The Potential and Promise of Bridging Programs PANEL PRESENTATION, METROPOLIS CONFERENCE- MARCH 2013 ACCES Employment, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, & Toronto Workforce Innovation Group 1
Successful Crossing: The Potential and Promise of Bridging Programs
PANEL PRESENTATION, METROPOLIS CONFERENCE- MARCH 2013 ACCES Employment, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, & Toronto Workforce Innovation Group
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Economic Context• International immigrants are the most significant source of migration to
the Greater Toronto Area. In 2012, the GTA welcomed close to 85,000 newcomers. Predictions are for close to 110,000 by 2015.
• Main sources of immigration are from China, India and the Philippines. • Ontario has recognized the need for economic restructuring, placing
more emphasis on education and skills training.
• Policies and practices that ease newcomers’ labour market integration are crucial to future economic growth and prosperity.
• Sector specific bridge training programs are important element of Ontario’s strategy to capitalize on the abilities of highly educated newcomers. 2
Critical Components
BRIDGING PROGRAMS
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
AGENCIES
GOVERNMENT
REGULATORY BODIES
EMPLOYERS
CONSORTIUM OF
COMMUNITY AGENCIES
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
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Capacities• Local Agencies provide awareness and
overview on labour market information and sectors
• Post-secondary institutions provide technical education and training
DESIGN
• Local agencies are providing online pre-training for highly technical programs to address language and cultural barriers
ACCESSIBILITY
• Job developers & Program Managers are facilitating unlimited coaching support to IEPs
DELIVERY
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Constraints
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• Lack of Employer Engagement to incorporate experiential learning
• Different funding models used by local agencies vs. post-secondary institutions
DESIGN
• Rising demand for programs continually exceeds organizational capacity & services
• Lack of clear and centralized information on programs forces IEPs to ‘shop around’
ACCESSIBILITY
• Job developers & Program Managers lack knowledge & skills to deal with cultural nuances DELIVERY
Promising Practices
• The following contributed to a positive program outcome for clients: 1. Employer engagement2. Networking and collaboration3. Staff skills and training4. Program models
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Employer Engagement• Involving employers in all
aspects of program development
• Providing post-program support
• Ensuring there is a clear market need for the sector-specific skills and knowledge
• Including practicums, co-op placements, internships
• Mentoring, speed mentoring, mock interviews
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Networking and Collaboration
• Share and learn what models are working well and how they address IEP needs in sector-specific bridging programs.
• Promote collaboration to prevent or minimize duplication and overlap. 8
Staff Skills and Training• Deliver comprehensive orientation sessions before programs
begin to accurately and clearly outline the intent of a program. This will help staff to manage expectations of IEPs so that they can plan for life in Canada.
• Sector-specific bridging programs must teach ‘soft skills’ to IEPs as part of their journey to successful integration into the Canadian workforce.
• Make sector-specific information available to staff in addition to general labour market information
• Programs that employ staff with sector-specific knowledge and experience report good outcomes for clients
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Program Models
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COMPREHENSIVETo serve targeted audiences and/or
organizations
PARTNERSHIPSFormalized relationships
and agreements between agencies
HOLISTICTo serve a diversity of
audiences and organizations
Across Jurisdictions
B.C.IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL
TRIEC ALLIES
IMMIGRANT SETTLEMENT & INTEGRATION SERVICES
EDMONTON REGIONAL IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL
Diversity and Inclusion are Business Enablers
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Thank You
Benilda Silkowska-MasiorOntario Ministry of Citizenship and [email protected]
Sue SadlerACCES [email protected]
Karen Charnow LiorToronto Workforce Innovation [email protected]