York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) is gaining recognition for its Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs), designed to assist newcomers to the country in navigating the complexities of the Canadian job market.
Within the Bridging Program, there are two options on offer: the Foundations Program, which includes courses created exclusively for IEPs, focusing on professional communication, leadership, internet technology (IT), as well as law and management skills in the Canadian context; and certificate programs focusing on either Canadian business or information technology, which allow students to gain a Canadian university credential and take courses toward professional accreditation. Both routes offer part-time and evening study options, along with flexible course selection, access to fee waivers, experiential education and career support.
Offering a comprehensive educational experience tailored specifically for IEPs seeking to enhance their career prospects in Canada, the programs benefit from financial supports from both the government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development, and the federal government, through Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada. Government funding goes toward supporting newcomers to access language development, career coaching and professional-level courses.
Art Noordeh is the academic director of the Bridging Program that, since its inception in 2010, has been instrumental in facilitating the career transitions of countless IEPs from diverse backgrounds and industries. “Our aim,” Noordeh says, “is to empower individuals to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to their chosen fields in Canada.”
Over 1,400 newcomers have participated in the programs since they started, says Monica Brennan, the Bridging Program’s associate director. Currently, a new intake of over 80 students are beginning their IEP journey and adding to those numbers.
Brennan says participants have an option to continue at York University following the completion of the Foundations Program, where they can take additional university-level credit courses as visiting students in their chosen field or apply to join the certificate programs. To date, approximately 40 per cent of participants have gone this route.
Among the Foundation Program graduates is Neha Aggarwal, who completed the program in December 2023. Despite having professional experience and expertise in her native India, she faced challenges securing interviews for a data analyst position after coming to Canada. After enrolling in York’s Bridging Program for IEPs in 2023, she participated in networking seminars, technology summits, and career fairs that exposed her to industry professionals and peers with similar aspirations. She also participated in drop-in language classes on weekends.
With enhanced language and communication skills, Aggarwal secured a data analyst internship within just one month of enrolment, a testament to the program’s effectiveness in facilitating career transitions for IEPs. She has now joined the IEP Professional Certificate in Information Technology.
“My journey with the IEP program at York University has been a personal odyssey of growth and success,” says Aggarwal, in a Foundations Program testimonial on the LA&PS website. “This program has not just been a professional journey; it has been the best personal chapter since I arrived in Canada, setting the stage for continuous success and growth.”
The professional certificate programs in both Canadian Business and IT have a long track record of success. The recently created Big Data & Data Analytics stream has been designed to quickly transition established IT professionals into the highest-demand skills of today’s workplace. The required course work includes deep theoretical knowledge, practical skills with current software packages and immersive project work in team environments. “These specialized IT skills can help relaunch the careers of IEP students on a new path well-aligned with the future of the Canadian economy,” says Professor Stephen Chen of the School of Information Technology at York U.
At a ceremony last month – attended by Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Phillips and Interim Dean of LA&PS Michele Johnson – recognizing newcomers who have graduated from the certificate programs or achieved career success, several attendees spoke – like Aggarwal – about the impact of York’s IEP programs.
“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 resumé writing and interview preparation, to effectively compete in the job market,” said IT graduate Dawit Gulta, who is currently working toward a graduate degree in big data and data analytics at York U and is a Mitacs graduate student intern at the Sunnybrook Research Institute.
“I learned essential knowledge and methodologies through the specialized courses in public administration. The practicum course allowed me to practise in a real public sector work setting, which led to my current job,” said student Eva Yuanyuan Han at the event. 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.
The graduates’ words spoke not only to how the Bridging Program for IEPs benefits individuals but also how it enriches Canada’s workforce with diverse talents and perspectives.
“At York University, we are dedicated to empowering IEPs with the resources required to unlock their potential to excel and fulfil their dreams in Canada,” says Noordeh. “The transformative impact of the program helps them to overcome barriers and achieve significant career growth in the job market.”
For more stories about graduates of the programs – including Dawit Gulta, who won a Dean’s Award for Research Excellence during his studies – visit the Bridging Program for IEPs website.