By Tracy Sherlock, Vancouver Sun | Link to Article
A new program is making it easier for immigrants to work in the sectors in which they were trained, the head of the National Association of Career Colleges says.
By Tracy Sherlock, Vancouver Sun | Link to Article
A new program is making it easier for immigrants to work in the sectors in which they were trained, the head of the National Association of Career Colleges says.
Serge Buy, the NACC’s chief executive officer, says Canada often doesn’t recognize educational credentials that are granted in other countries, which leaves many immigrants working in low-paying jobs that are not related to their chosen field.
The Alternative Career Pathways program is federally funded and will help immigrants make use of their existing skills to find a job that is at least in the same sector, if not at the same level, Buy said.
“A lot of immigrants are stuck working in jobs that are completely unrelated to their field of study or experience,” Buy said. “What happens is that a lot of these people who had hopes and dreams and wanted to be a real part of our country are working delivering pizza or working in a restaurant.”
Buy gave the examples of a lawyer who could be trained as a paralegal, an engineer who could be trained as a drafting technician or a nurse who could be trained as a personal health care attendant. He said the training might take six months and could cost between $6,000 and $12,000.
He said the new program will provide individuals with advice on how to make the most of their existing skills. The program has a mandate to not only refer clients to NACC member colleges, but also to other schools and programs, Buy said, adding that about 50 per cent of participants are not referred to members.
The program has four regional coordinators, including one based in Vancouver.
Buy acknowledged that some career colleges have better reputations than others but said his association is proud of what the great majority of its members are doing. Although the option to take related training has always existed for immigrants, the opportunity to meet with a person and discuss options is new, Buy said.
“The problem is that a lot of these people don’t know about the solutions,” Buy said. “They’re being told, ‘If you want to be an engineer, go back to school for seven years.’ … The option of having a six-month program to go back to work in an engineering-related profession was not explained to them and that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to make that link for them.”
The NACC represents almost 500 career colleges across the country, including Metro Vancouver’s Discovery Community College, Stenberg College and the Canadian Tourism College.
Sun Education Reporter
tsherlock@vancouversun.com