Conestoga news

November 23, 2006 1:36 PM

Free Program in Guelph Offers Employment, Education Skills

Employment Training Readiness

In the new year, the Conestoga campus in Guelph will offer a free preparatory skills program called Employment/Training Readiness (E/TR). The eight-week daytime program begins on Monday, January 8.

Conestoga College is midwestern Ontario’s most comprehensive post-secondary educational institution, serving all sectors of the population in meeting their needs and aspirations related to career education. Among Conestoga’s goals is providing practical educational opportunities that give individuals the skills and confidence to enter or re-enter the job market, or to prepare for further, specialized career education.

Likewise, Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities has created Employment Ontario, an employment and training network to serve as a one-stop shop for information on training services and programs of benefit to employers, employees, apprentices and job seekers: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/tcu/etlanding.html.

Employment/Training Readiness is part of the Employment Ontario concept.

Participants in E/TR work individually and in groups to focus on assessing and enhancing skills in a number of areas: mathematics, communications, goal setting, educational/job plan development, problem solving strategies applicable to family, self, work and leisure situations, computer basics and even a two-week period of work shadow experience in actual employment settings.

Completion of the program can lead directly to a job search or to possible further education and training.

The program is open to applicants who are age 19 or older and who successfully complete a program suitability interview, but the enrolment capacity is limited.

Interested persons may contact the Conestoga College Information Centre for details. Call 519-763-9525, ext. 3656 in the Guelph area or 519-748-5220, ext. 3656 in Waterloo Region.

CONTACT: Frances Painter (Guelph campus), 519-824-9390, ext. 172, fpainter@conestogac.on.ca