DiversityCLUES Consulting was retained by  UBC – Centre for Intercultural Communication to conduct an environmental scan of BC’s bridging programs for internationally-trained professionals.

Project: Environmental Scan of BC’s Bridging Programs for Internationally-Trained Professionals
Client:  UBC, Continuing Education, Centre for Intercultural Communication
Project Timeline: 2013
Area of Expertise: Project Management / Research / Policy Development / Best practice research
Team members: Olga Shcherbyna, as a project manager and senior researcher; Alia Dharssi as a junior researcher and editing assistant.

The research was commissioned by the Centre for Intercultural Communication, UBC Continuing Studies with the objective of developing a more thorough understanding of the local landscape of immigrant bridging programs delivered in British Columbia. The study was approximately five months in duration (May 22 – October 30, 2013). The report was prepared by Olga Shcherbyna of Diversity Clues Consulting Inc. and supported by Junior Researcher and Editing Assistant Alia Dharssi.

The ultimate goal of this project is to offer recommendations as to where UBC Continuing Studies is best-positioned to offer bridging program(s) for ITPs. The components of the project include:

1. Examining the current landscape: a summary of existing Bridging Programs for ITPs in BC:
Who is doing what?
What are some of the best practices in delivering these programs?

2. Examining the gaps: an identification of the needs for programming for ITPs:
What fields are experiencing shortages of workers?
Are there programs needed to help bridge ITPs into these fields?

3. Developing the recommendations: given UBC’s areas of expertise and UBC Continuing Studies’ cost-recovery reality, what could UBC Continuing Studies (other UBC’s department) do to help address gaps?
If a pilot project, then in which industry? What is the delivery format?
Who are the potential partners?
What possible sources of development funding are available?

 Learn more about past DiversityCLUES Consulting projects