OCASI Provincial Summit 2014The Inclusion Agenda

Post-Secondary EducationProgramming and Services for Immigrants

Alex Irwin Director, School of Immigrant & Transitional EducationGeorge Brown College

Immigration: Ontario & GTA

20.3% of Ontario’s population is foreign born

GTA population 6.05 million: 51% foreign born

In 2013, the Region welcomed about 81,800 international immigrants

By 2031, almost 80% of Toronto residents will likely be immigrants or children of immigrant parents.

Source: Toronto’s Vital Signs Report 2014

Options at Ontario Colleges

Part-Time

Bridging Programs

Post-Graduate

Diplomas

Degrees

Upgrading

OSLT & ESL

Who do Ontario Colleges Serve?

Each year Ontario’s 24 colleges serve - 200,000 full-time students/300,000 part-time students and clients

58% of college students are high school graduates and 42% have previous postsecondary experience (2011)

23% of applicants are ‘first generation’ – with neither parent having attended PSE

Ontario colleges are a first point of entry for many newcomers

16% of Ontario college applicants born outside of Canada

Approx 20,400 international students were enrolled in 2012 -13

Sources: OCAS; Applicant Survey (Academica Group Inc.); Student Satisfaction Survey (MTCU)

Location of Ontario Colleges

Largest colleges have over 20,000 FT students, 2 smallest have approximately 1,500 students

Snapshot: George Brown College

Founded in 1967

Located in heart of downtown Toronto

24,800+ Full time students

61,300+ Continuing Ed. Students

3,270+ International Students

1,494 Apprentices

135 career-focused full-time and 189 continuing education certificates/designations

5 campuses: St. James, Casa Loma, Ryerson, Theatre, Waterfront

Source: Fast Facts 2012-2013 (George Brown College Institutional Research & Planning, OCAS distinct enrolment report)

Immigrants at George Brown College

Of the George Brown College students who completed the 2013-14 key performance indicator (KPI) survey:– 44% were born outside of Canada

– 33% self-identify as having a first language other than English

– 51% had some post-secondary education before their current program

– 12% are International students

Each academic School has a different mix of the above:– 68% of students in the School of Financial Services were born outside Canada - 57% self-

identify as ESL

– 60% of students in the School of Nursing were born outside Canada - 49% self-identify as ESL

– 42% in the School of Business were born outside Canada - 34% self-identify as ESL

GBC Organizational Structure: Immigrant Programming

Centre for Preparatory and Liberal Studies (CPLS)

School of Immigrant & Transitional Education– Entry Advising Services, CHOICES

– Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP)

– PLAR Office

– Bridging Programs

– Immigrant Education Programming – Build Connections, Mentoring

– Language Support – OSLT, Language for the Workplace

School of English as a Second Language (ESL)– English for Academic Purposes

– 800-900 students

– IELTS Testing Centre

Immigrant Programming: Pre-Entry

Entry Advising Free service to help potential applicants learn about College programs as well

as other supports in the community. Encourages short and long term goal setting. Align program selection with career goals.

In 2013-14 supported 6,062 new clients

Over 70% immigrants.

Top countries: China, India, Philippines, ColombiaIran

Remaining 30% - underserved groups

19% Second Career

CHOICES Program Free one-week designed to assist prospective students in personal and career

exploration to find potential pathways to education at GBC.

CHOICES Explore & Planfor College

Want to apply to College?Not sure what program to take?Applied but didn’t get in?This FREE one-week class is for you!If one or more of these statements applies to you:• I’m not sure what to study;• I don’t meet the application requirements;• I didn’t get into the program I applied to and wantto reapply with a stronger application;• I’m worried about how to pay for college...Join this class to:• Figure out the best program for your interests• Strengthen your future applications to the College• Develop a plan of action that works for you.

Immigrant Programming: Pre-Entry

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition: the identification, assessment and

recognition of learning acquired through formal and informal study. Challenge exams, portfolio reviews, interviews, performance evaluation

CIIP – Canadian Immigrant Integration Program Federally funded program (CIC) that provides in-country, and on-line advising

for pre-arrival immigrants

Essential Skills Pilot Project CIC funded project that provides 10 hours of essential skills coaching via

Skype to pre-arrival immigrants.

Orientation to Ontario (O2O)

Flexible and Accelerated Academic Programming

Bridging Programs for International Professionals• Academic Pathway for Nurses for Internationally Educated Nurses (1 year,

Graduate Certificate)

• College Teacher Training Program (8 month, Graduate Certificate)

• Construction Management for Internationally Educated Professionals (1 year, Graduate Certificate)

• Career and Work Counsellor Program for Internationally Educated Professionals (16 month, diploma)

Post-Graduate Programming• Short-term programs; hands on work-experience; work ready graduates

• Examples: Strategic Relationship Marketing (1 year), Health Informatics (1 year)

• Higher level English required than Bridging Programs

Build Connections WorkshopsWorkshops for Immigrant & International Students on Canadian culture, Canadian classroom culture, culture of the workplaceEffective Intercultural Communications – Avoiding Breakdowns and Making Yourself Heard

Learning Canadian Styles: Strategies for the Canadian Classroom

Understanding Canada

Canadian Workplace Culture: Settle In, Fit In and Thrive

Adapting Your International Resume to the Canadian Market

Cultural/Soft Skills Programming

Workplace Communications

Workplace Communications for Nursing Students 45 hour modular courses on communications in the workplace for Academic

Pathways for Nursing students

Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) Federally funded (CIC) workplace communications courses offered at 16

Ontario colleges

At GBC: Health Sciences (Nursing, General, Inter-professional Health), Business (Entrepreneur & Sales/Marketing, Accounting & Finance)

180 hours (140 for Inter-professional health) – offered in the evening at GBC; 8 courses in 2013-14; GBC Certificate awarded

School of English as a Second Language

Overview English for Academic Purposes (EAP)

9 levels, business stream option at level 9

8 week sessions, 800-900 students per session

Diversity of students: 55% domestic, 45% international

Top countries: China, Iran, Korea, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine

Co-curricular and extra curricular activities

Recent Challenges Cancellation of Ontario Special Bursary Program in 2012

End of Tuition Short funding stream in 2013

The New Story - International Students as immigrants

Over 80% of GBC’s International students want to stay in Canada for at least 3 years

47% of international students expressed a desire to live in Canada permanently Another 34% want to stay for up to 3 years after graduation

International Students need more information about immigration

Information on longer term programs and the various pathways to immigrationHow familiar are you with the following Canadian programs?

Snapshot: Ontario Francophone Colleges

Two French language colleges in Ontario: Collège Boréal and La Cité

Francophone immigrant population in Ontario are relatively recent arrivals: 39% have arrived since 2006

Higher education than total population: 63% have higher education, compared to 49% of general population

Quebec accepts 80% of francophone immigrants, Ontario accepts 70% of remaining 20% - second largest destination for francophones outside Quebec – Toronto and Ottawa most popular destinations

Countries of origin of immigrant students:

– Haiti 25%, Democratic Republic of Congo 13%, Lebanon 5%, Burundi 5%

– Others: Morocco, France, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Djibouti

Challenges: bilingualism, employer engagement, new policies: express entry

Ontario Colleges: Provincial Coordination

College Sector Immigrant Programs and Services Committee

CSIPS

CSIPS Overview

CSIPS is a provincial committee that reports to the Workforce Development Coordinating Committee (WDCC).

Lead the college system to champion immigrant issues and develop and improve programs and services for immigrants;

Support college sector to identify and stimulate funding for supports, programs and services for immigrants;

Represent Ontario colleges at the national and international levels at activities and consultations regarding immigrant integration;

Provide a forum to discuss immigrant issues and provide support and information to colleges;

Link with stakeholder groups, including settlement sector, to advocate for immigrant supports, programs and services.

CSIPS - Activities

Conferences

April 19th, 2013 - Ontario Colleges Serving ImmigrantsGeorge Brown College

October 23rd, 2014 – Mind the Gap: Serving Immigrants at Ontario CollegesCollege Boréal

OCAS Immigrant Application Page

“Applying to College as an Immigrant Student”

http://www.ontariocolleges.ca

Challenges and Opportunities

Significant changes to federal immigration policies– Changes to Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) category: points system changes,

language requirements, credential recognition

– Express Entry system

– Temporary Foreign Workers

– International Students as Immigrants

Opportunities– Pre-arrival services and programming: latest CFP

– Workplace communications, soft & essential skills

– Cooperative training/programming with employers (express entry system, TFW)

– Individuals outside of categories of focus for federal government: spouses, refugees, children of newcomers

– Cooperation with Immigrant Serving Agencies: government funded programming, self-sustaining cooperative ventures, services to international students

Thank You!

Alex Irwin Director, School of Immigrant & Transitional EducationGeorge Brown Collegeairwin@georgebrown.ca