The Inclusion Agenda - Post- Secondary Programming and Services for Immigrants - Alex Irwin

1. OCASI Provincial Summit 2014
The Inclusion Agenda
Post-Secondary Education
Programming and Services for Immigrants
Alex Irwin
Director, School of Immigrant & Transitional Education
George Brown College

2. 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

3. Options at Ontario Colleges
Part-Time
Bridging
Programs
Post-Graduate
Diplomas
Degrees
Upgrading
OSLT & ESL

4. 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)

5. Location of Ontario Colleges
 Largest colleges have over
20,000 FT students, 2
smallest have approximately
1,500 students

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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, Colombia
Iran
 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.

10. CHOICES Explore & Plan
for 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 want
to 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.

11. 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)

12. 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

13. Cultural/Soft Skills Programming
Build Connections Workshops
Workshops for Immigrant & International Students on Canadian culture,
Canadian classroom culture, culture of the workplace
Effective 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. International Students need more
information about immigration
Information on longer term programs and the various pathways to immigration
How familiar are you with the following Canadian programs?

18. 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

19. Ontario Colleges: Provincial
Coordination
College Sector Immigrant Programs
and Services Committee
CSIPS

20. 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.

21. CSIPS - Activities
Conferences
April 19th, 2013 - Ontario Colleges Serving Immigrants
George Brown College
October 23rd, 2014 – Mind the Gap: Serving
Immigrants at Ontario Colleges
College Boréal
OCAS Immigrant Application Page
“Applying to College
as an Immigrant Student”
http://www.ontariocolleges.ca

22. 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

23. Thank You!
Alex Irwin
Director, School of Immigrant & Transitional Education
George Brown College
airwin@georgebrown.ca