Canadian Immigrant Resource Network

Main Goals | Training and Support Programs | Knowledge Forum | Program Evaluation and Development | Priorities

Canadian Immigrant Resource Network

Virtual Academy

The Virtual Academy and its best pratices exchange forum deals with traning programs in different aspects of settlement for immigrants and for those who work for or with immigrants.

Main Goals

To help prepare immigrants for full participation as workers and citizens in Canada.
To collect and post information about existing educational possibilities and support programs.
To find or design result-oriented and effective methods for all related services and tasks.
To challenge stakeholders to enhance the existing range of programs in the country.
To make information and training material accessible for tele-learning.

Training and Support Programs for Immigrants

Program listings of training programs offered for immigrants in the country are compiled under

Settlement Skills and Support
Learning English (ESL)
Career Help

Please submit additional information and suggestions via the Training and Support Programs Forum. The Guide to Immigrant Services section provides basic orientation about the program choice for newcomers to Canada. For more information about Skills Development, Upgrading and Retraining or to participate in the related discussion forums please visit the Resource Integration and Knowledge Management Section.

Knowledge Forum on Immigration

Information on programs, initiatives and teaching material about immigration is grouped into two main areas:

Immigration Studies
Cultural Competency and DiversityTraining

Please submit additional information and suggestions via the Knowledge Forum on Immigration.

Program Evaluation and Development

New programs and discussion forums for best practices exchange to evaluate and to improve integration support programs for immigrants and the methods of ESL teaching (TESL).

Areas of consideration for evaluation:

Newcomer Settlement Skills Information and Training
Learning English (ESL)
Career Support
Immigrant Settlement Support Practices
Cultural Competency Training
Methods of Teaching ESL (TESL)
ICT Basics

New program development:

Immigrant Children and Youth Integration
Immigrant Children and Youth Education
Support for Immigrant Seniors

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Appendix

Overview of educational programs and activities
National priorities established by the Canadian Immigrant Resource Network

Immigration Studies

Topics
Migration / Multiculturalism / Integration / Studies in special aspects of immigration

Objective
Generate and provide complete list of existing programs and teaching material in Canada
Initiate new courses and programs as needed, find best practices, implement distance delivery options for the courses.

Target groups
Canadian employers, teachers of immigrant students, ESL teachers, decision makers, service and settlement providers, HR representatives
Immigrant employees, immigrant and Canadian born students, immigrant families with school children, immigrant women, etc.

Cultural Competency Training

Topics
Basics of settlement issues, sources of information, understanding of challenges, cultural sensitivity, interpersonal and social skills, special actual issues, etc.

Objective
Generate and provide list of existing programs in Canada
Establish certificate program for employment in immigrant-related service jobs as public service functions in government, settlement agencies and education.

For Canadians and for immigrant job applicants as well.

Teaching ESL (TESL)

Topics
Methods of literacy assessment for different levels and purposes
Schools / elements of everyday communication
Profession-specific / business communication
Speech training

Objective
Implement national best practices exchange forum to create needs appropriate and effective teaching methods
Introduce and utilize technology with self-learning and interactive methods
Utilize mass media and distance education options.

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ICT Basics Training

Objective
Information and communication technology (ICT) and Internet literacy skills training for newcomers.
Could be offered also in other than English language.

Target groups
Newcomers - adults and students - who need ICT skills for information, learning and work.

Self-Employment Training

Topics
Personal suitability test, viability test of business idea , business plan development, getting started, business management, finances, funding opportunities, etc.

Objective
Collect information on existing initiatives and establish on-line access to them.
Connect candidates through the Career Creation Forum.

Settlement Skills for Newcomers

Topics
Housing, health services, food choices and healthy lifestyle on a limited budget, communication skills, interpersonal and social skills, financial and legal help, child-care and translation support, special needs services, etc.

Objective
Provide well-organized in-depth information and training regarding general issues of settlement in Canada.
Mobilize resources and best practices exchange.
Establish training program, textbook and distance delivery.

Support and Skills Training for Newcomer Youth

Topics
Immigrant children and youth integration
Immigrant children and youth education
ESL teaching for newcomer youth

Objective
Mobilize to collect information on best practices
Introduce age-appropriate educational and mentoring methods
Develop on-line support material and self-assessment tools for newcomer students of every age group
Establish method and technical background for individual and group tele-teaching.

Support for Immigrant Seniors

Topics
Cultural bridging, translation services, health issues, housing, community help

Objective
Find and implement support programs for immigrant seniors.

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