The Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning is expanding its Graduate Mentorship Program by adding 50 additional work experiences for new post-secondary grads, says Workforce and Advanced Learning Minister Richard Brown.
“The Graduate Mentorship Program has had tremendous success in providing Island youth with valuable opportunities to acquire skills and work experience while making a living here at home,” said Minister Brown. “Today we are pleased to build on this success by extending the mentorship opportunity to 50 more youth in 2015-2016, and by enabling employers to make mentorship opportunities available throughout the year.”
Since it was introduced in 2012, the Graduate Mentorship Program has provided mentorship opportunities for 280 graduates in sectors such as information technology, business administration, sales, marketing and the construction trades.
“Working with employers to build a skilled workforce is one of government’s most important priorities” said Minister Brown. “The Graduate Mentorship program allows recent college and university graduates to gain valuable career opportunities related to their field of study, while providing employers with more access to a skilled labour pool.”
Dr. Brian MacMillan, president of Holland College, said the expanded program will help many students with their entry to professional life.
“At Holland College, we understand the value of hands-on learning and real-world experience. The Graduate Mentorship Program will give our students, many of whom complete on the job training as part of their studies, the opportunity to further demonstrate their skills and abilities to potential employers as well as acquire additional work force experience to enhance their opportunity for employment,” he said.
Donald DesRoches, president of College Acadie, said the program helps at a time when it is vital for former students to make professional connections. “The Graduate Mentorship Program ensures graduates have a smooth transition from post-secondary studies to the workforce. The program is an essential component in support of the transition to a strong career path,” he said.
BACKGROUNDER
Quick Facts – Skills PEI’s Graduate Mentorship Program
• SkillsPEI is a division of the new department of Workforce and Advanced Learning. The mandate of SkillsPEI is to assist unemployed Islanders with acquiring the training, skills and experience needed to find and maintain work in PEI.
• Each year SkillsPEI and its partner agencies help thousands of Islanders secure employment while helping employers identify the right person to fill job vacancies.
• SkillsPEI has six office locations across PEI.
• SkillsPEI has Employment Officers in each office that work directly with unemployed Islanders to help match your skills with the needs of the employers.
• New initiatives are coming soon to offer additional services that will enhance opportunities for PEI job seekers.
• The Job Bank has a new look! Unemployed Islanders can now see jobs by their skill level, occupation, or geographic location.
• The Graduate Mentorship program is funded by the Canada-PEI Labour Market Development Agreement and the SkillsPEI provincial budget.