Immigrant Integration Aided by the Internet:

Nova Scotia (NS) Findings

Nick Kasteljanov, Wolfville Memorial Library C@P Lab

Tools for Life Conference 2012

My Wedding

I, from Serbia

My wife, from Colombia

100 % Immigrants

In Wolfville, NS

My Wedding Was video-streamed over the Internet to two continents

Tool for integration?

“Integration” is the term used in Canada to describe the process of embracing and involving immigrants in their new community (NWGSCS, 2007).

Faster integration = More effective NS workforce

Faster integration = Happy families

Faster integration = Progressive communities

Internet is Important for Immigrants!

Information!

Integration services are available in big cities.

Services such as language education, employment counselling, mentoring, and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Needs

The Internet has the potential to remove barriers -Internet delivered (online) services.

Number of Internet-based technologies and services available. (Underutilised?)

Potential

Exploratory Literature Research Empirical Research in NS Key findings:

Immigrants in NS use the Internet for easier integration; Community needs assessments are important for the

development of online services for immigrants; The best framework for the delivery of immigrant services

online is a partnership between immigrant service providers (such is ISIS) and the local community partners such are libraries.

Research

Internet - most popular media used by immigrants (Chen,

2010).

Internet is an enabler ( Scopsi, 2004; cited in Hamel, 2009) .

Obtainment of equal opportunities (Elias & Lemish’s study, 2009;

Farlie, 2005; cited in Weiskopf, 2008).

Immigrants seen as typical “off-liners” (Kissau, 2006).

However, in Canada immigrants have a higher Internet use percentage than non-immigrants (Chiswick &

Miller, 2005; Statistics Canada, 2008 cited in Hamel, 2009).

Secondary Findings

EU success thanks to public Internet access points designed specifically for immigrants, such as in immigration service provider’s offices and public libraries

(Hamel, 2009). Immigrant Internet usage was mostly to search for

information, to communicate, and to keep in touch with their home country and families (Kissau, 2006).

Benefits of using Internet for integration: finding meaningful employment, social networking, skills development, settlement process, and assistance in daily activities.

Secondary Findings

Ninety-eight per cent of the immigrants stated that their use of the internet had a positive effect on their life (Kissau, 2008).

Internet - a very important tool in finding meaningful employment (Kuhn and Skuterud (2002 cited in TIEDI, 2011).

Internet-based platforms can also be used to assess skills and give visibility to capabilities and experiences of immigrants (Kluzer & Rissola, 2009).

Secondary Findings

NS experiences - showing the use of the Internet by immigrants as an assistive tool for integration.

ISIS - leader in online immigrant services delivery in NS.

ISIS has identified childcare, health, transportation and work schedules as barriers to access of services in face-to-face programmes (Larson, 2009).

Nova Scotia Findings

Questionnaires.

NS immigrants (sixty five respondents).

An insight into the Internet usage patterns by immigrants in Nova Scotia.

Empirical Research

Empirical Research

86.15

60

27.69 26.15

13.84

80.95

66.66

14.28 14.28 9.52

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

I own my own computer I have access to the internetfrom my home using fast

internet connection

I have access to the internetusing network at my work

I’m using internet access in the public library

I use "smart" phone toaccess internet

All respondents (%) One year in NS (%)

ICT resources access by respondents

Empirical Research

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Email Skype or similar audiochat

Facebook or similarsocial networks

Online learning Websites in mylanguage

Job searching &preparation websites

%

Respondents’ Internet applications use

Empirical Research

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Communicate withother people

Find information Improve my Englishskills

Participate in onlinecommunities

Find a job Find housing

%

Respondents’ Internet use by tasks

Empirical Research

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

All respondents (%) 1-5 years in NS (%)

Yes

No

Two frequently mentioned websites were: Citizenship and Immigration Canada. URL: cic.gc.ca and Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services. URL: isisns.ca

Comparison of usage of Internet to access services for immigrants – All VS respondents residing in NS in between 1 to 5 years.

The reason that I use the Internet to access services for immigrants is that they are not available in my area.

Did you easily understand the information provided and website navigation on web sites provided by immigrant service providers?

Empirical Research

How would you measure the usefulness of services available online aimed at assisting immigrants?

If you used those services, do you think they assisted you to settle faster (more easily)?

Empirical Research

Further Opportunities

Practical implementation in the libraries and C@P sites.

Economically feasible.

Q & A ?

Nick Kasteljanov Wolfville Memorial Library C@P Lab

wolfvillecap@valleylibrary.ca

www.valleylibrary.ca/wocap

Thank You