Many new immigrants to Canada face a familiar predicament: the necessity of upgrading or adjusting their academic credentials to meet local standards, which could span several months or even years. A novel solution is now emerging for those migrating from the Maghreb region – achieving a Canadian degree while still in their home country. One such innovative endeavor is underway in Tunisia.
Wiki Academy, situated in Tunis, provides a training program titled ‘Intervention in Social Work’, a course designed to cater to the needs of the elderly or those nearing the end of life. Ons Ben Ounis, the school’s founder, spoke with Radio Canada International to highlight the program’s aim – to fill the observed lack in Tunisia of professionals trained in these skills.
Furthermore, these programs present a significant employment potential in Canada, adhering to the educational and training standards of the country.
In 2019, a crucial agreement was forged with the CEGEP (Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel) in Saint-Félicien, Quebec – a public collegiate institution that provides pre-university and technical education. This arrangement intended to replicate the Quebec institution’s programs in Tunisia, marking the first experiment in CEGEP’s ‘degree outsourcing’ pilot program.
The potential of achieving a Canadian degree in the Maghreb region has become a reality. In Canada, the job role is known as ‘caregiver’. Canadian law necessitates that the training of these caregivers must also include social aspects, considering that the elderly and those nearing the end of life require engaging activities and artistic pursuits.
This year witnessed the graduation of the fifth cohort from the Tunisian school. The rigorous 1200-hour training program is scrutinized by the Canadian CEGEP, who reviews the trainers’ CVs and course plans, according to Ons Ben Ounis. With stringent selection criteria, only about 12 out of every 100 candidates successfully pass the test, the director revealed.
Graduates aspiring to immigrate to Canada initially work in Tunisia to gain valuable experience while simultaneously receiving job offers from retirement homes in Canada. As Ons Ben Ounis points out, these institutions are facing a significant shortage of staff, leading to instances where the school even conducted training programs specifically requested by Canadian institutions.
The Tunisian school also specializes in agri-food training, delivered in partnership with the Quebec Institute of Agri-Food Technology (ITAQ). After a year of training in Tunis, students proceed with two additional years of study in Quebec. Upon graduation, they find employment in Quebec quite easily.
The director disclosed that as soon as she identifies a “program with strong employability,” she is quick to introduce it in her school.