• Career/technical programs need to accommodate the language requirements of immigrants. In addition to bridging programs, there is a need to build into existing career/technical programs, specialized ESL and FSL courses and additional modules on Canadian workplace practices. Immigrant students can also be integrated effectively into regular career/technical programs if adequate support services are offered.
• The integration of Canadian work experience into career/technical and bridging programs is essential if immigrants are to gain essential Canadian work experience.
• Counseling and advisory services have been very successful when peer helper or mentor programs are introduced. Colleges and institutes must work closely with immigrant services organizations to ensure the effective delivery of these services.
• Integration support services must take into account the diverse needs of immigrants. Learning Centres provide a good model for colleges and institutes interested in offering academic and learning support services for immigrants.
• Inter-cultural and diversity awareness must be increased through cross-cultural training for faculty and staff, and the development of inclusive curricula and teaching methodologies.
• Federal, provincial and municipal programs provide funding for innovative programs delivered by colleges and institutes. However, these special programs cannot remain distinct and operate outside mainstream college/institute activities if they are to be financially sustainable.

6. Conclusions and Outcomes from the College and Institute Immigration Roundtable

The Immigration Roundtable enabled representatives from colleges and institutes and federal government departments to discuss future areas of collaboration. The roundtable participants recommended that a college and institute process model for the integration of immigrants be developed that would encompass a comprehensive suite of programs and services which colleges and institutes can follow and adapt when developing programs and services aimed at facilitating the integration of immigrants within their communities. This model is inspired from the Maytree Foundation’s “Systems Approach to Facilitate Labour Market Entry for Skilled Immigrants”, and includes some initial support and integration services that could be offered initially at overseas sites and then continue in Canada. The model includes the following main components:

• Information access for immigrants through the Immigration Portal and Overseas and In-Canada Orientation Sessions.
• Assessment services that can begin overseas and continue in Canada: language skills, PLAR, academic credentials and professional work experience.
• Advising and counselling services to facilitate program entry and completion and entry into the labour market.
• Education and training programs that range from English and French as a second language, occupation- specific language training, support for entry into career/technical, applied degree and university transfer programs, bridging programs, co-op and work placement programs, workplace training and community- based training.
• How college systems and structures need to be enhanced and the partnerships in which colleges and institutes must be engaged in order to deliver more effective programs and services for immigrants.

Immigration roundtable participants also defined a strategy which is comprised of the following steps intended to move this agenda forward for colleges and institutes: