New bridging programs at York University

Written by CNMAG Friday, 21 August 2009 09:34

It was supposed to be an announcement but it ended up a celebration. Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Michael Chan, and York University President and Vice-Chancellor, Mamdouh Shoukri, announced the expansion of bridge training for immigrants offered by the university.

The province is investing $5.2 million towards the university's new bridge training programs for information technologists and business professionals, in addition to an existing nursing program.

Bridge training programs help newcomers trained overseas get the local training they need to find a job in their field and contribute to Ontario's economy. The programs provide a variety of transitional supports such as international skills assessment, technical training, local work experience, occupation specific language training and mentorships.

Support for these programs is part of the government's plan to strengthen the economy by investing in the skills and knowledge of Ontarians. "Ontario's newcomers are both educated and skilled. This investment in bridge training will help employers access their qualifications and talent sooner," Minister Chan said.

The funding will help to increase success rates for internationally educated nurses on the Canadian Registered Nurses Examination by providing test taking, cognitive and anxiety reducing/confidence building strategies. According to a York University press release, since 2005, York’s bridge training project has helped 136 internationally educated nurses graduate with a BScN, a qualification that helps them become licensed and employed in Ontario.

The new bridging project in business will provide training in Ontario business culture, ethics, law, taxation and math, occupation-specific language training, Canadian work experience and mentorship. At the same time, the program for professionals in the information technology field will focus on technical upgrading, occupation-specific language training, cross-cultural competencies and mentorship.

"Once again, the McGuinty government has shown it understands that an investment in postsecondary education is an investment in Ontario’s future," York President Mamdouh Shoukri said.

Since 2003, bridge training programs have helped more than 30,000 newcomers get jobs and get licensed in their field. About 70 percent of Ontario's adult newcomers have post-secondary education or training.