PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE INTERNATIONALLY-EDUCATED ENGINEERS QUALIFICATIONS PILOT PROGRAM, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

With increasing immigration to Canada, governments are urging professional regulatory bodies to develop new licensing pathways to recognize foreign credentials of immigrant professionals more quickly and effectively. The Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualification Pilot Program was developed in response to such pressures. The objectives of this primarily qualitative research study were to document and understand the experiences and perceptions of the international engineering graduates in three program cohorts and to apply the findings to program development and evaluation. Data were obtained through focus groups and follow-up questionnaires administered to three cohorts. Findings indicated that program strengths, which are also aligned with program objectives, include its recognition as a licensing pathway, emphasis on cultural integration, and labour market access. Findings led to the development of a comprehensive support structure for participants. Keywords: international engineering graduate; foreign credentials recognition; qualitative research.