Project Background
Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan)’s Virtu-WIL project, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), is offering students innovative work-integrated learning opportunities through virtual simulations in five areas of healthcare programming: entry-to-practice nursing, medical laboratory technology, paramedicine, sonography and respiratory therapy.
CICan, in partnership with Simulation Canada and post-secondary institutions from across the country, has developed virtual simulations for healthcare education and made them openly and freely accessible to educators and students in Canada through the Virtu-WIL project. For examples, please visit Simulation Canada
CICan, in partnership with Simulation Canada, and in collaboration with post-secondary institutions has:
- Developed over 180 virtual simulations for students in Nursing, Medical Laboratory Technology, Paramedicine and Sonography programs.
- Recognized over 8,000 students for participating in a combination of virtual simulations and debrief sessions with employers/clinical partners.
Request for Quote
CICan invites its members or non-members to submit a quote through our fillable form by September 18, 2024, to adapt and translate up to 25 existing Virtu-WIL virtual simulations into French for one or more of the following programs: entry-to-practice nursing, paramedicine, and/or sonography.
To help ensure simulation accessibility for francophone students across Canada, the translation and adaption services will include:
- translating and adapting simulations, to ensure relevance and appropriateness for a francophone audience (this may or may not include: sub-titles, text, audio, and/ or visual/ video updates);
- translating and adapting related documents, (such as instructor’s guides); and
- editing and uploading the French simulations to the host platform.
Translations may be done in-house or outsourced so long as content quality and accuracy are ensured. A PSI lead for this initiative is to be selected and support will be provided by the project team and platform’s technical team with a pilot review cycle and regular check-in meetings to ensure timely achievement of deliverables.
The overall goal of this initiative is to increase the range of French virtual simulation resources available free of charge and openly for French-speaking institutions and their students.
Responsibilities, Deliverables and Timeline
Successful applicants MUST:
- Assign staff to carry out activities and share information with CICan
- Identify the simulations to be translated and adapted (September 28)
- Meet with the platform team(s) to access the virtual simulations and learn how to use the self-service platform
- Translate the virtual simulations and related curriculum guide documents from English to Universal French, ensuring that the translation is culturally relevant and pedagogically effective for French-speaking learners
- Contribute to the Virtu-WIL comprehensive term base that standardizes key terminology across all translated materials
- Implement rigorous quality assurance processes, to review and validate the translated content, ensuring it meets high standards of accuracy and readability. This will include a CICan pilot simulation review of the initial French simulation, (October 29) and a final CICan review of all French simulations produced (January 10)
- Work closely with CICan, simulation authors and platform representatives to ensure smooth co-creation process and the development of an effective adaptation.
- Maintain ongoing communication with CICan, including regular updates on progress and any challenges encountered.
- Upload newly translated French simulations onto platform (ongoing, completion by January 28)
- Provide all associated documents (curriculum guides, etc) to CICan for safekeeping and future distribution by contract end date (February 28)
Financial compensation
CICan has a set budget for simulation translation and adaptation, and understands that for some simulations the level of effort may require changes to video, animation, graphics, etc. In this way, we are looking for a submission to capture an average cost on a per simulation basis. Please submit your quote indicating:
- a cost breakdown with the cost per word and hourly rate for additional adaptation.
- the number of simulations you expect to translate per program, (i.e. entry-to-practice nursing, paramedicine, and/or sonography), based on the amount available for translation by program below (the maximum for this call being 25). Additional funding for full adaptations will be provided based on needs upon approval by CICan.
Currently, each program listed below has the following number of Virtu-WIL simulations available for translation:
- Nursing: 62 simulations
- Paramedicine: 23 simulations
- Sonography: 8 simulations
Selection Criteria
Applicants should possess significant experience in simulation translation and adaptation within their communities and professional networks. They can be members or non-members of CICan. Proficiency in both official languages is required to provide support and expertise.
Interested parties should demonstrate:
- Adequate resources and infrastructure to support the assigned project requirements within the given timeframe
- Experience in:
- Adapting and translating content between English and French
- Designing and delivering programs in bilingual or French-language educational settings
- Commitment to active and efficient collaboration with CICan and design and development partners
Mandatory Criteria
M1. Adequate resources and infrastructure to support the assigned project requirements within the given timeframe and experience designing and delivering programs in bilingual or French-language educational settings.
M2. Demonstrated expertise in translation of simulation content, with a proven track record of effectively adapting materials to French, ensuing cultural relevance, accessibility, and accuracy.
M3. Ability to provide specialized expertise and support within the context of program educational environments.
Other Criteria to be considered
O1. Experience in utilizing multiple technology and/or digital tools to enhance the translation process and deliver high-quality outcomes.
O2. Experience collaborating with educational institutions or organizations in the adaptation and translation of educational materials.
O3. Previous involvement in projects or initiatives promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in educational settings.
Selection Process & Deadline for Submission
Applications must be received no later than noon EDT on September 18, 2024. The form must be signed by the appropriate signing authority of the solo institution applicant, or for consortium applicants, the selected primary contact institution on behalf of all consortium members. An external committee will assist in the contract awards process based on the criteria defined above. For more information, please contact virtu-wil@cican.org.
Related Program
Virtu-WIL
