9. Why Developed / Problems / Issues Targeted

 What are the main aims or objectives of the initiative? Is it designed to address any particular problems or issues? If so, please specify what these are.

Connecting Learning and Work’s plan of action aims to achieve the following goals:

For individuals: Provide better access across the lifespan for individuals to engage in career and employment programs and services so they can acquire career planning and management skills.

For the Learning and Career Development System: Create an interconnected and integrated learning and career development system.

For the Workforce: Enable Alberta’s workforce to be adaptable and productive.

10. Key Features / Content

  • Innovative
  • Effective
  • Promising
 Please describe the main features of the program, focusing in particular on those aspects that are particularly innovative, effective or promising.

The policy’s themes are:

Personalized Learning: Help individuals make informed choices and access programs and services they need to make learning and work decisions.

Relevance: Make connection between learning, working and living in the community and find greater meaning in all forms of learning and workplace training.

Partnerships: Create opportunities by creating key relationships with stakeholders and with other governments and organizations who are involved with education and employment.

Transitions: Help individuals effectively manage transitions by developing core career development skills: career literacy (knowledge, skills and attitudes to design for a preferred future); career balance (managing personal, social economic and community factors); and career gumption (the confidence to act on decisions and plans)

Goals of the policy that support school-to-work transition of youth include:

  • Ensuring that all students explore their abilities, interests and passions and develop knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to be fulfilled, productive citizens. (Lead ministry: Education)
  • Exploring ways that K – 12 education can be more responsive to the dynamic environment of today’s world, i.e., policy, curriculum, practical work experience for students in the community,
  • Providing professional development, implementation support for Connecting Learning and Work within the K – 12 learning system, workforce planning. (Lead ministry: Education).
  • Ensuring that all students can manage transitions within the K – 12 learning system and when moving into further education, training and/or workplace. (Lead ministry: Education).