A celebratory event will honour the many internationally educated professionals who recently participated York’s program that helps newcomers to overcome barriers in their career path  

TORONTO, Wednesday, July 17, 2024 – York University is hosting Celebrate Success July 2024: Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP) Bridging Program, today at the Tribute Communities Recital Hall and CIBC Lobby, at 7:00 p.m. The first in-person ceremony since the pandemic, is in honour of program graduates, many of whom have overcome barriers as newcomers to Canada.

“The IEP Bridging Program not only opened my eyes to the abundance of opportunities but also breathed life into my dreams,” says Dawit Gulta, who is among 68 graduates from two professional certificate programs – Certificate in Canadian Business and Certificate in Information Technology — and are originally from Africa, Europe, Central and South America, East and South Asia, and the Middle Easte.

For more than a decade, over 1500 new Canadians like Gulta, from 65 countries have participated in IEP programs in these certificate programs and the Foundation program.  Offered by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LA&PS), these programs support newcomers with career coaching and networking opportunities and to help them develop an action plan tailored to their individual skills development and career path.

Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, these certificate programs help participants to complete credit courses in their fields, which can also help them to achieve professional accreditation in Canada. The Foundation program, which is focused on helping newcomers to hone soft skills in the Canadian context, is funded by federal government’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Patrice Barnes, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Member of Provincial Parliament, Ajax, is scheduled to participate in today’s celebrations and bring greetings to the graduates from the provincial funder.  Other attendees will include Provost & Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps, who will offer the opening remarks, and Michelle Johnson, interim dean of LA&PS.

“Having immigrated from Jamaica myself, I understand the significance of building a foundation in a new country and equipping yourself for success in unfamiliar surroundings,” says Johnson. “I am proud to be part of a Faculty that provides an outstanding Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals, supporting students from diverse backgrounds worldwide.”

“Our aim is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields in Canada,” says Art Noordeh, who has served as the director of the IEP Bridging Program since its inception, explaining how the program supports IEPs transition into employment that matches their education, skills and work experience.

Gulta, who immigrated from Ethiopia and is receiving a Certificate in Information Technology, says, “The program provided insights into the Canadian labour market, enhancing my understanding of industry trends and employer expectations. It equipped me with job search strategies, including resume writing and interview preparation, to effectively compete in the job market.” He is currently working toward a graduate degree in Big Data & Data Analytics at York and is a Mitacs graduate student intern at the Sunnybrook Research Institute.

Another graduate, Eva Yuanyuan Han who is originally from China, shares her experience: “I learned essential knowledge and methodologies through the specialized courses in Public Administration.The practicum course allowed me to practice in a real public sector work setting, which led to my current job.”

She joined the Ontario Ministry of Health as a Resource Analyst in May, graduating with a Certificate in Canadian Business in the Public Administration stream.

York University staff, partners, friends and families of the graduates will also be in attendance at the event. A networking session at the end of the ceremony will give an opportunity for alumni, students and guests to connect.