4. Lessons Learned

Through this diagnostic survey, colleges and institutes identified the following lessons learned based on their experience in developing and delivering programs for immigrants within their local communities.

Support from College/Institute Senior Management

• Colleges and institutes that want to be successful in delivering programs and services to immigrants need to have visible commitment from the senior level and commitment throughout the organization to facilitate a collective willingness to support the presence of immigrants within the institution. Colleges and institutes need to allocate resources that support immigrant students. Concepts of respecting diversity and creating an inclusive environment have to become part of the organizational fabric rather than add-on’s.
• It is not just the continuing education department of the college or institute that needs to be involved, support is required by all departments, including: health services, security, support staff. It is important to make all services and staff aware that newcomers will be attending the institution and that they may need some additional guidance and support. They must also be made aware of the challenges newcomers face in terms of language and new systems and environments.

Application and Enrolment Processes

• There needs to be a central one-stop shop where an applicant can obtain information from someone with the time to answer questions.
• Immigrants would benefit if colleges and institutes had a streamlined process or package within the framework of a career planning approach that includes: language training, financial support, career planning, upgrading to Canadian workplace standards, and a Canadian work placement experience. St. Clair College in Windsor has introduced this type of career planning process and reports that it is beginning to make a difference for immigrant students.
• Colleges and institutes need to take a more holistic approach that finds the most beneficial journey from assessment to training to employment.

Language is Key

Effective language training is key to the successful integration of new Canadians. Almost all colleges and institutes have indicated that they would like to either introduce or expand upon the levels and diversity of language training offered in order to facilitate the integration and credentialing of immigrant learners. The following lessons learned relate to language training:

• Most people do not learn a new language quickly. If immigrant students are beginning at a low level, they generally run out of funding before they can advance to higher levels of language development. For example, LINC training that only goes to level four is not high enough to enable immigrants to access a good job or go on to further education. Some provincial governments have begun funding immigrant students to a higher level of language training. For example Bow Valley College in Alberta has immigrant students funded for its English for Academic Purposes course which is sufficient to articulate with other post-secondary programs.