Ottawa, October 18, 2018 – Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is pleased to announce that nine new Canadian institutions are now engaged in CICan’s Pacific Alliance EFE Program in Mexico and Colombia. The selected colleges and institutes will work with local partners to provide increased economic opportunities for new graduates from technical and professional training institutions in the Pacific Alliance countries.
This brings the number of Canadian colleges and institutes contributing to CICan’s PA-EFE to thirteen in Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
In all, Canadian colleges and institutes will be involved in seven projects with their Pacific Alliance counterparts, two in Chili, two in Colombia, two in Mexico and one in Peru. The alliances in Colombia and Mexico will focus on improving programs in six sectors: supervision in mining work, environmental resources technology, renewal energies, alternative sources of energy, industrial mechanics and industrial electrical-mechanics.
The participating Canadian colleges and institutes in Mexico and Colombia are: Camosun College, Cégep de Jonquière, Cégep Saint‐Jean‐sur‐Richelieu, Cégep de Trois-Rivières, Collège Montmorency, Fanshawe College, Marine Institute of Memorial University, Niagara College and the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick. In Chile and Peru, the institutional partnerships started in June with the technical assistance of BCIT, Cégep de l’Abitibi- Témiscamingue, College of the New Caledonia, Niagara College and Nova Scotia Community College.
Based on CICan’s proven Education for Employment approach, the PA-EFE Program is a regional, five-year program funded by Global Affairs Canada that will support the upgrading and development of expertise by training a qualified work force that meets the current and future needs and standards of the private sector. The ultimate beneficiaries of this program will be young men and women who will access jobs that are directly and indirectly tied to the extractive sector in the Pacific Alliance member countries, with a focus on the environment and their communities’ wellbeing. The program also aims to support the governance of the extractive sector by strengthening the regional dialogue between representatives of the private, public, and civil society sectors of the four Pacific Alliance countries and Canada on regulatory best practices (environmental, socioeconomic, etc) of the extractive sector.
Quotes:
“With these new partnerships in place, the Pacific Alliance EFE Program is off to a great start! This will be a wonderful opportunity for all partners to work together in order to improve economic opportunities for young people in Mexico and Colombia.”
Denise Amyot, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada
“Canada is interested in assisting and helping young Mexicans integrate efficiently into the extractive sector labor market, so that they can contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of Mexico. This Program supports the strengthening of technical and professional training, with the objective of sharing and disseminating the Canadian experience in the management of natural resources from the perspective of our International Feminist Assistance Policy”.
Sacha Levasseur-Rivard,Public Affairs Counselor, Canadian Embassy in Mexico
“This Canadian initiative in partnership with Colombia and the Pacific Alliance aims to improve the technical training of workers in the extractive sector in order to ensure a better employability for all, a sustainable management of the environment and an economic and social development more inclusive”
Claudio Ramirez, Counselor and Senior Trade Commissioner, Canadian Embassy in Colombia
About Colleges and Institutes Canada:
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) is the voice of Canada’s publicly-supported colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment with ongoing programs in over 25 countries. CICan’s members add over $190B to Canada’s economy each year and contribute to inclusive economic growth by working with industry and community partners to offer more than 10,000 programs to learners in urban, rural, remote, and northern communities.
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For more information:
Julien Abord-Babin
Senior Strategic Communications Officer
Colleges and Institutes Canada
jabord-babin@collegesinstitutes.ca
Tel. : 613-746-2222 ext. 3131
Twitter : @CollegeCan