|
Internationally Educated Agrologist Pilot Program
What is the IEAP Program?
The Internationally Educated Agrologists Pilot (IEAP) Program is a skill-bridging program to facilitate the integration of foreign-trained agrologists into the Manitoba agriculture sector.
For those with a background in:
- Agronomy
- Agribusiness & Agricultural Economics
- Animal Science
- Entomology
- Food Science
- Plant Science
- Soil Science
The IEAP Program helps internationally-educated agrologists gain formal recognition of their non-Canadian credentials by the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA).
Class of 2011-2012
What is the purpose of the IEAP Program?
The IEAP Program is designed to provide foreign-trained professionals with the Canadian agricultural context to best use their technical expertise in their new country.
An individual must be a registered member of the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA) in order to be licensed to practice the profession of Agrology in Manitoba.
This program provides a process whereby internationally-educated agrologists can meet the minimum knowledge requirements of the MIA in order to qualify for the Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.) designation in Manitoba.
Overview
Every year the number of skilled professionals immigrating to Manitoba increases. This pool of skilled immigrants includes foreign-trained agrologists who wish to continue to pursue their careers in agriculture in Manitoba. Manitoba is home to a vibrant agricultural industry in need of skilled professionals.
These factors resulted in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Manitoba Labour and Immigration and the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists working together to develop a skills bridging pilot program for foreign trained agrologists: the Internationally Educated Agrologists Pilot (IEAP) Program.
Who administers the IEAP Program?
The program is a partnership between:
- Manitoba Labour and Immigration
- Manitoba Institute of Agrologists
- Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba
Who can participate in the IEAP Program?
Permanent Residents or Canadian Citizens with a degree in Agriculture from another country.
Benefits to Program Participants :
- the program is approved and supported by the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA)
- successful completion meets knowledge requirements for MIA licensure
- a timely way to integrate into Manitoba agriculture industry sectors
- an immersion in the technical and professional language of the agriculture profession in English
- an overview of codes, regulations and structure of agriculture in Manitoba
- a familiarization with professional standards of conduct
- Manitoba agricultural work experience through the IEAP cooperative work experience
- an introduction to a regional agricultural network of students, professors, and industry agrologists.
What is the structure of the IEAP Program?
Foreign-trained agrologists that qualify for the program are required to complete a minimum of eight courses at the University of Manitoba as prescribed by the Advisory Committee of the IEAP Program. The eight months of academic training are followed by a four-month co-op work experience.
The academic course work provides an opportunity for the foreign-trained agrologists to demonstrate and confirm their technical and professional competency in the Canadian context. The four month work experience addresses the challenge of ‘lack of Canadian work experience’. The work experience is a paid cooperative opportunity in which the foreign-trained agrologist is hired by and works for an agricultural company in Manitoba.
An Advisory Committee comprised of representatives of MIA and the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, select courses specific to the requirement of each foreign-trained agrologist.
Courses are selected based on:
- intended scope of practice
- agricultural background/experience
The IEAP Participants are enrolled in four types of courses in the Faculty:
- Courses related to IEAP participant's areas of
discipline.
- Courses that provide Canada-specific
knowledge about the agricultural business,
agricultural sciences, as well as production
and management practices.
- “Business and Technical Communication”
course, designed specifically for the IEAP Program to
improve participant communication and
language skills.
- “Practising the Profession of Agrology”
course, designed specifically for the IEAP Program to
learn about the agriculture industry and the
responsibilities of a practicing grologist.
Courses will be selected in consultation with the participant and the IEAP Program Course Selection Committee at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.
You are eligible to apply for the Internationally Educated Agrologists Pilot Program if :
- you have a degree in agriculture from another country
- you are a permanent resident or Canadian citizen
- you have been assessed at an English Language Benchmark of 8 or higher,
- you have a valid driver’s license, and
- Your application for registration with the Manitoba Institute of Agrologists (MIA) has been accepted. NOTE: This means that you are eligible to APPLY for the IEAP Program ONLY if you have a letter from MIA indicating that your MIA application for registration has been ACCEPTED.
How to obtain the MIA Letter of Confirmation that your application with the MIA has been accepted?
1. Please refer to the MIA website for details on the complete application for registration process (www.mia.mb.ca) If you have questions about the MIA or its process, please contact MIA directly: email: agrologist@mia.mb.ca
2. Apply for the Comprehensive Course-by-Course evaluation from World Education Services (WES) at www.wes.org/ca/mia.asp at least 3 to 6 months before the IEAP deadline. Please see “the process” information below.
3. Apply to MIA right away after you have requested the Comprehensive Course-by-Course evaluation from WES – DO NOT wait.
The process:
Before MIA will assess your academic credentials against the standard for acceptance, MIA requires the Comprehensive Course-by-Course evaluation from WES*. WES will send the results directly to MIA.
(*Contact MIA if you have already obtained a comprehensive course by course education evaluation from another recognized credential evaluation agency in Canada)
Receiving the Comprehensive Course-by-Course evaluation from WES may take from 3 to 6 months, and in some cases longer; every country is different.
If you are interested in joining the IEAP Program, apply right away to WES and MIA, so you will increase your chances of applying to the IEAP Program before the deadline (April 30, 2012).
The IEAP Program begins in August each year.
You are advised to begin the registration process with MIA, as soon as possible.
Once you have registered with MIA, you can apply for the IEAP Program no later than April 30 for entry in August 2012.
How do I apply to the IEAP Program?
Submit the following documents to the IEAP Program:
- 2012 Application form.
- Recent Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment record
- Recent résumé
- Copy of your university transcript. (If you are accepted, original or certified transcripts will be required).
- Copy of MIA's Letter of Confirmation that your MIA application for registration has been ACCEPTED
IEAP Program
Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences,
248 Agriculture Building , University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada R3T 2N2
The number of people accepted into the program is limited. Apply no later than April 30, 2012.
Note:The IEAP Program will ONLY accept you application if you attach a copy of MIA's Letter of Confirmation that your MIA application for registration has been ACCEPTED (no exceptions)
The program will proceed pending confirmation of permanent funding.
English Language Assessment
To obtain your Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment record, contact the Winnipeg English Language Assessment and Referral Centre (WELARC).
4th Floor - 275 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 2B3
Phone: 204-943-5387
Costs Associated with the Program
The program tuition, course registration fees, and tour fees will be covered by the IEAP participant.
Tuition fees depend on the number of courses, up to $5,000.00
You will be referred to potential sources of financial assistance, if required.
Credentials Recognition Financial Assistance
The Government of Manitoba may assist newcomers to Canada with the costs of having their foreign credentials recognized. Application fees to WES, MIA, as well as other fees may be shared. Call 945-6300 or 1-800-665-8332 for more information.
What is the deadline for applications in order to be considered for the August intake?
April 30, 2012
If I apply how will I know I have been accepted?
The first requirement to determine your eligibility for the IEAP is that your academic credentials have been assessed and accepted by MIA.
In May 2012 you will be notified by e-mail if you have been accepted, wait-listed, or not accepted. No results will be given by phone.
If you are accepted, original or certified transcripts will be required.
When does the IEAP Program start for qualified candidates?
Qualified candidates begin the training through the program one week before the start of the Fall Term at the University of Manitoba, usually the last week of August 2012.
Does the IEAP Program only start in August?
Yes, there is currently no other start date for the program.
Other links
 For more information contact:
Alicia Franco-Espinosa
IEAP Program Coordinator
Valerie Broadhurst
IEAP Office Assistant
ieap@cc.umanitoba.ca
204-272-1688
|
