Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan, previously known as ACCC) is the national not-for-profit membership association representing Canada’s public colleges, institutes, cégeps and polytechnics. CICan is committed to quality education and skills development opportunities for all Canadians as a means to maximize labour market participation, support Canada’s prosperity and nurture global citizenship. Colleges and institutes serve over 3,000 communities in urban, rural and remote areas all across the country, serving 1.5 million Canadians every year.
We are recognized around the world for partnerships with industry, providing tailored curriculum, partnered research and work-integrated learning opportunities for students. We work collaboratively with community partners to provide immigrants and refugees with the training and support services they need to successfully enter the labour market and integrate in Canada.
Colleges and institutes also welcome international students, providing a pathway to immigration and successful economic integration. International students enrich the classroom for domestic students while training for a Canadian credential and/or upgrading their language skills, soft skills and enhancing their overall employability in the Canadian job market.
Internationally, CICan delivers overseas orientation for newcomers through the award-winning Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP). Our Planning for Canada initiative is jointly delivered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and accelerates the successful integration of economic immigrants into Canadian society. We provide information, planning, and online support through partners in Canada in person at our offices in China, India, and the Philippines, and reaching around the world with an online global team.
Last Updated: August 10, 2016