Home  Active Projects  CIITE
 
CIITE

Colleges Integrating Immigrants to Employment (CIITE)

Funded by the Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, the Colleges Integrating Immigrants to Employment (CIITE) project has entered its third phase. This initiative is designed to improve the pathways for internationally trained immigrants (ITIs)* through the Ontario college system, from pre-entry services through employment transition and into the workforce. The project is designed to be implemented in three phases:

  • Phase 1, Research – determine the level of services and systems in the Ontario colleges.

  • Phase 2, Pilot and Testing – develop and pilot programs and projects that will address the needs identified in Phase 1.

  • Phase 3, Implementation – deliver programs and projects which will equip colleges so they may better serve and meet the needs of the ITIs.

    Currently, the project is in the first year of Phase 3, which is designed to be implemented over three years. Colleges involved in these activities work with the CIITE project team, to develop and change processes which will enable the college system to better meet the needs of ITIs. The reach of the project is significant; for example, from July 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, more than 1,738 ITIs were served by the CIITE Advisement Project.

    Work is currently underway in the following areas:

  • ITI Advising
  • Credential Recognition
  • Competency Assessment
  • ITI Data Collection
  • ITI Employment Support
  • Flexible/Modular Delivery
  • Francophone Issues
  • Language Benchmarking
  • Cultural Competence
  • Organizational Culture and Change Management

    The colleges assigned project representatives for each of these areas, and project implementation is led by a thirteen-member Project Office team.

    If you have any questions or would like more information about the CON*NECT CIITE project, please contact:

    Samuel Smeaton
    Administrative Coordinator, Immigration Initiatives
    416.351.0330 x 3700
    smeaton@collegeconnect.on.ca

    You can also visit the CIITE website for further information: www.ciite.ca

    * For the purposes of CIITE, an internationally trained immigrant is defined as an immigrant who has completed some post-secondary level education or training, and/or work experience in a country outside of Canada.