Lynn Lievonen

Toronto, Oct. 22, 2012 – York University has launched a bridging program for internationally educated human resources (HR) professionals to help skilled immigrants fill the gaps between their credentials and what is required to land a position in their profession in Canada.

The program launch addresses an anticipated need given a recent Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) report that predicts there will be a shortage of human resources professionals over the next 10 years (Canadian Occupational Projection System 2011 Projections: Imbalances Between Labour Demand and Supply 2011-2020).

“There is an anticipated future gap for trained HR professionals as baby boomers retire and an obvious solution is to create the ability for talented professionals who are immigrating into the country to address that shortage,” says Parbudyal Singh, Professor of Human Resources Management at York University. “York’s bridging program will help immigrant HR specialists get the Canadian experience and designations required to gain meaningful employment in that field.”

Ana Carolina Andrade, an HR professional who moved to Canada from Brazil, reflects the challenges immigrants can face. Despite considerable HR experience, including working for a major North American automotive manufacturer in Brazil, she has been unable to find an equivalent job since arriving in Canada and decided to enroll in York’s bridging program.

“Despite my employment experience and expertise, it’s been a challenge finding a position similar to the one I held in Brazil,” says Andrade. “York’s program is already showing me some of the nuances of doing business in Canada while also enabling me to work towards my Certified Human Resources Professional designation.”

A track record of success
“We’ve helped many business and IT internationally educated professionals find meaningful employment in the past two years, and are well positioned to contribute to the future economy by playing a vital role in bridging an anticipated gap in this field,” says Art Noordeh, Faculty Lead, York University Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals.

The HR bridging program at York taps into the university’s School of HR Management, an acknowledged leader in human resources management education. York’s bridging programs for internationally educated business, IT and HR professionals are highly customized for each participant, individually tailoring a program based on each newcomer’s specific credentials, experience and chosen profession.

About York University
York University is helping to shape the global thinkers and thinking that will define tomorrow. York’s unwavering commitment to excellence reflects a rich diversity of perspectives and a strong sense of social responsibility that sets us apart. A York U degree empowers graduates to thrive in the world and achieve their life goals through a rigorous academic foundation balanced by real-world experiential education. As a globally recognized research centre, York is fully engaged in the critical discussions that lead to innovative solutions to the most pressing local and global social challenges. York’s 11 faculties and 28 research centres are thinking bigger, broader and more globally, partnering with 288 leading universities worldwide. York's community is strong − 55,000 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, and more than 250,000 alumni.

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For more information, contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca