1. We recommend that education authorities and occupational and professional associations coordinate their efforts and establish national, standard methods of assessing credentials earned in other jurisdictions (other provinces/territories and other countries). This will prevent duplication, ensure that equivalencies awarded by one labour market partner will be acknowledged by all others, and promote mobility. The Quebec model for assessment of credentials should be closely examined as a possible model for other jurisdictions.

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials

This centre was established in the fall of 1990. It is a national, nonprofit body, co-founded by the Council of Ministers of Education and the Department of the Secretary of State (now part of HRD). It represents a joint undertaking of the provincial and federal governments. It was created to ensure that Canada fulfills its obligations under the terms of the Unesco convention signed in 1989. The purpose of this convention is to encourage the international mobility of workers by ensuring that higher education and professional qualifications are recognized as widely as possible. The centre is part of an international network of similar centres.

Its mandate is to serve as a referral service for individuals and organizations who desire information on the assessment of academic and professional qualifications. It does not evaluate credentials, grant equivalencies, or participate in the assessment process. To facilitate the work of the centre, two databases are currently being developed. One is the Paris-based TRACE network, which contains information describing education systems around the world. The second database will contain a list of all organizations in Canada that assess academic and professional qualifications.

PLA is important for the adult learner because it emphasizes learning outcomes rather than traditional education. A strong feature of PLA is its focus on the student - it offers a bridge from the student's current position to his or her goal and, therefore, promotes transition into the labour force or career progress within the labour force. In this context, PLA and employment counselling are complementary, and highlight the potential usefulness of employability skills assessment.