New career booster for foreign professionals

Canada’s Information and Communications Technology Council and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. British Columbia have partnered to launch a first-of-its-kind pilot program to help prepare internationally educated professionals (IEPs) for employment in Canada’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
The Integrated Work Experience Strategy (IWES) pilot program is being hosted in Greater Vancouver and will run throughout 2009.

It provides IEPs with an intensive introduction to Canadian workplace culture and the communications skills they require for success on the job. The program also prepares candidates for specific occupations and arranges work placements with ICT employers.

By December 2009, 30 participants will have completed the program.
"We’re proud to be a part of this initiative. We believe it will have a real impact at the ground level, giving highly skilled internationally educated professionals the chance to become thriving, contributing members of Canadian society," said Thomas Tam, Acting CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
The IWES program consists of a five-week intensive training session including full-time classroom training and interactive workshops followed by guided work experience.

It allows IEPs to identify and improve their soft skills which are necessary for successfully integrating into the Canadian ICT workplace.

The program will increase the availability of highly qualified IEPs to meet the demand of the ICT sector and help strengthen Canada’s competitive advantage in the global ICT market.
"IEPs are an important part of a highly skilled Canadian labour market and we’re committed to doing everything we can to foster their smooth integration into the workforce," said Paul Swinwood, President and CEO of ICTC.
If the pilot proves successful, it may be replicated throughout Canada.
The IWES program is available to unemployed or underemployed internationally educated ICT professionals who are legally entitled to work in Canada and are recent immigrants to Canada. For more information visit www.ictc-ctic.ca