The Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) has developed a strategy to accelerate the integration of internationally educated HR professionals (HR IEPs) into the human resources profession.
The strategy, which combines efforts by HRPA, bridging programs and internationally educated professional (IEP) employment agencies, was borne out of HRPA’s new study Accelerating the Integration of Internationally Educated Human Resources Professionals.
The study examined the experiences of 89 HR IEPs in the Ontario human resources labour market and 18 employers from large Canadian organizations. It found that while 94 per cent of HR IEPs immigrated to Canada with the intention of pursuing a HR career, only 48 per cent of participants were successful in finding an HR job within two years of arrival.
“The HR-IEP Integration Strategy seeks to close this gap; and as the regulatory body of the HR profession, HRPA plays a significant role in accelerating the integration of HR IEPs into the Ontario HR profession,” says Claude Balthazard, study author and HRPA director of HR excellence. “It also goes far in meeting the requirements of the Fair Registration Practices Code contained in Ontario’s Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act (FARPA), which seeks to remove barriers to the registration of IEPs. This new strategy illustrates HRPA’s commitment to its social responsibilities as a regulator.”
HRPA’s HR-IEP Integration Strategy identifies several areas of improvement to accelerate the integration of HR IEPs into the Ontario HR profession. They include:
HRPA has also received funding from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration to deliver three HR-IEP/Employer and IEP agency conferences across Ontario. The conferences, to take place during June, October and November 2010, will help effective transition for HR-IEPs in Ontario organizations.
“In many Canadian organizations, HR professionals are on the leading edge in implementing diversity and inclusion practices in their workplaces. HRPA’s HR-IEP Integration Strategy aligns with what many HRPA members are already doing in their organizations,” says Balthazard.
For a full copy of Accelerating the Integration of Internationally Educated Human Resources Professionals, please go to www.hrpa.ca/hriep.
The strategy, which combines efforts by HRPA, bridging programs and internationally educated professional (IEP) employment agencies, was borne out of HRPA’s new study Accelerating the Integration of Internationally Educated Human Resources Professionals.
The study examined the experiences of 89 HR IEPs in the Ontario human resources labour market and 18 employers from large Canadian organizations. It found that while 94 per cent of HR IEPs immigrated to Canada with the intention of pursuing a HR career, only 48 per cent of participants were successful in finding an HR job within two years of arrival.
“The HR-IEP Integration Strategy seeks to close this gap; and as the regulatory body of the HR profession, HRPA plays a significant role in accelerating the integration of HR IEPs into the Ontario HR profession,” says Claude Balthazard, study author and HRPA director of HR excellence. “It also goes far in meeting the requirements of the Fair Registration Practices Code contained in Ontario’s Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act (FARPA), which seeks to remove barriers to the registration of IEPs. This new strategy illustrates HRPA’s commitment to its social responsibilities as a regulator.”
HRPA’s HR-IEP Integration Strategy identifies several areas of improvement to accelerate the integration of HR IEPs into the Ontario HR profession. They include:
- A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) Alternative Routes program that fast-tracks verification of HR-IEP education and experience so they can write their CHRP certification exam within six months of arrival in Ontario.
- A discounted HRPA HR-IEP membership category that provides professional development and networking opportunities.
- An online information resource directing HR IEPs to appropriate bridging, mentorship and professional networking opportunities.
- The development of HR-IEP-specific professional development that provide HR IEPs with training in Ontario employment law. HRPA is in the process of partnering with an IEP agency to design and deliver this program in 2010.
- Training in culturally sensitive performance and management conversations for managers working with HR IEPs.
HRPA has also received funding from the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration to deliver three HR-IEP/Employer and IEP agency conferences across Ontario. The conferences, to take place during June, October and November 2010, will help effective transition for HR-IEPs in Ontario organizations.
“In many Canadian organizations, HR professionals are on the leading edge in implementing diversity and inclusion practices in their workplaces. HRPA’s HR-IEP Integration Strategy aligns with what many HRPA members are already doing in their organizations,” says Balthazard.
For a full copy of Accelerating the Integration of Internationally Educated Human Resources Professionals, please go to www.hrpa.ca/hriep.
