ePortfolioRecognition and employability for

Manitoba’s immigrants

Office of the Manitoba Fairness Commissioner

March 14, 2012

Recognition ChallengesRegulated occupations

Regulator ChallengesOperational

• Regulators’ main concern is protection of the public• Safety concern reflected in practice: incompetent

applicants out vs. competent applicants in• Paper vs. person • Incomplete requirement = non recognition• Mid-career professionals with experiential learning

assessed by system designed for recent graduates (sequential education ) = years of experience as if non existent

• Generalists vs. specialists• Little analysis about the purpose of the requirement /

person meets the substance of the requirement / Courts have ruled there is a duty to accommodate

BRAIN GAIN, DRAIN & WASTEThe Experiences of Internationally Educated Health Professionals in Canada (Bourgeault et al., 2010)

Relevant Needs:– Improve access to health sector and

profession-specific language training;– Provide clear, consistent information from

multiple sources about the process and outcomes of integration

– Increase opportunities to gain cultural competence both formally and informally.

http://bit.ly/OMFC_BGDW

What is ePortfolio?

http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/infokits/e-portfolios

Résumé vs. Portfolio

(Courtesy FuturEd)

ePortfolio: Product and Process• Product

– Digital archive– Showcase: celebration & assessment of learning

• Education: Acceptance/advanced standing, course requirement, graduation requirement

• Workplace: Hiring, HR development, professional development, project team selection

• Process– Assessment for learning (e.g. CLPA)– Reflection, self-assessment– Transferring skills, making transitions– Coaching, collaborative learning– Learning plans

FuturEd 2004

Benefits of “e”• Information Management capabilities

– Collecting, archiving, making different versions• Easy sharing

– “One to many”, digital copies, links to specific pages• Collaboration

– Easy to add comments, edit, mentor, coach– Can integrate with other ICT systems

• Measurement– Link to frameworks, rubrics, track learning over time

• Easy to illustrate/demonstrate with multimedia– Pictures, PowerPoint, Audio, Video

• Integration with Internet skills– Online research: documents, networks– Internet literacy– Builds personal network, grooms digital identity

Ways ePortfolio can be used

• Initial, formative assessment tool– Assemble work experience, knowledge of the field– Demonstrate Essential Skills for employability (“Language +”)

• Online Learning Workbook– “Personal Learning Environment”: knowledge building, learning

plans, reflection– Benchmark progress, with online coaching

• Challenge full/partial accreditation – RPL (authentic evidence)• Employment, career advancement

– Online resume, Web CV, Job Match Summary

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Record– Record of learning activities, knowledge building, reflection– Performance support (Personal Learning Environment)

• Requalification (if a requirement)

QR process flow

ExamplesRoyal College of Nursing, NHS Scotland (UK)

ExamplesRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Portfolios and IEHP

• Atlantic Connection for IEHPs– Portfolio Development Guide for IEHPs

• Ontario– College of Respiratory Therapists (paper

portfolio)

• Saskatchewan– Career Pathing Orientation Manual (SAHO)

• Alberta – Mount Royal University – Professional

Communication for IEHPs

IEHP Toolkit

ExamplesInternationally Educated Engineer (MB)

Career Portfolio ManitobaProvincewide solution for adults in transition

• Based on Essential Skills– Not a straitjacket - a focus for employability

• User friendly– For individuals and employers– Can be “simple and easy” or “rich and deep”

• Well supported– Hands-on portfolio building program– Exemplars, step by step video tutorials, ongoing user support

• Complementary to other programs– e.g. Collaborative Language Portfolio Assessment (CLPA)

• Open source and global: always improving– Flexibility & sustainable continuous improvement

Building on Essential Skills

DemonstrationCareer Portfolio Manitoba

Benefits for newcomers• Self-assessment, personal reflection• “Digital evidence bank” to support

professional goals and consideration of alternative goals

• Personal space for learning and building knowledge

• Develop communication skills• Build business network, personal

“brand”

• Visibility, transparency– (esp. with exemplars)

• Holistic view of applicant– Authentic valorization of experience

• Overseas engagement?– Early “teachable moments” with time to improve

• Value-added service to candidates– Low stakes tool for triage– Process & product supports career development

• Can point to alternative career options

• Ongoing services for registered members– Employability Showcase, CPD (e.g. CME)

Potential benefits for RegulatorsSupporting fairness, providing utility

Looking forward:Options for Manitoba Regulators• Refer learners to WEM’s Career

Portfolio Manitoba program:Phyllis MannProgram Coordinator for Essential Skills for ImmigrantsWorkplace Education Manitoba1000 Waverley StreetTel: 272-5044PMann@wem.mb.ca

• Explore individual solutions that integrate current organizational workflows

Don Presantdon@learningagents.ca(204) 219-5933

http://careerportfolio.mb.ca/

Phyllis MannProgram Coordinator for Essential Skills for Immigrants1000 Waverley Street(204) 272-5044PMann@wem.mb.ca