Canada's aggressive immigration targets for the coming years reflect the importance of newcomers to the country's social, economic, and cultural landscape. As temporary residents already in Canada, international students can play a key role in the country’s growth. To best prepare international students for employment, a clear understanding of employer expectations and engagement with Canadian employers is essential, yet this is rarely included as part of formal education. To address this, the Immigrant Employment Council of BC has partnered with Northeastern University and Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society to offer ASCEND, an online employment readiness program, directly to international students. This session will discuss the employment needs of businesses, how schools can best support them, and the results of piloting ASCEND with diverse groups of international students.
Additional Resources:
Bethany Edmunds - Northeastern University
Ria Agarwal -