Immigrants are accessing the programs and services of colleges and institutes on their own initiative, or on referrals from federal or provincial government departments or local immigrant settlement organizations.
Virtually all colleges and institutes confirmed that immigrant-initiated access to their programs is very common. In effect, word of mouth has become increasingly common whether from other immigrants in the community, ethno cultural organizations or from immigrants contacts in their home country. For example, VCC confirmed that word of mouth is the main source for new immigrant students accessing their programs. Centennial College recently surveyed their preparatory ESL students and found that 50 percent confirmed that they found out about the program through word of mouth. They also found that another 50 percent found out about the program through the college website. Although Centennial is located in a high immigrant settlement area of Toronto, the college’s survey confirmed that 94 percent of students have a computer in the home.
As indicated in Section 2.2.1, 18 colleges and institutes are currently delivering LINC or equivalent programs in their community, and 11 institutions are also serving as LINC Assessment Centres. This finding confirms that all of these institutions have first year immigrants accessing their programs through referrals from CIC. Colleges and institutes which do not offer LINC-type programs, have also received referrals from CIC for regular ESL/FSL programs, but to a lesser degree. Red River College only receives CIC referrals for government sponsored refugees.
Approximately 50 percent of responding colleges and institutes indicated that they receive referrals from HRSDC to support immigrants entering either ESL programs or career-focused programs after the first year of settlement. These referrals are often funded through HRSDC project-based funding aimed at the integration of immigrants, or through the employment insurance program. For example, the Centre for Foreign Trained Professionals at Humber Institute of Technology and Applied Learning has received such referrals.
Colleges and institutes from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, indicated that they receive referrals from their provincial governments. The referring ministries and departments are listed below:
| British Columbia: | Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services |
| Alberta: | Alberta Human Resource and Employment, Alberta Learning |
| Manitoba: | Manitoba Education and Training, Manitoba Labour and Immigration – Immigration and Multiculturalism Division |
| Ontario: | Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities |
| Québec: | Ministère des relations avec les citoyens et de l’Immigration and Emploi Québec |