Feature of the month | September 2010

NALD@Work is an online repository containing everything you need to support a workplace education program.Its resources include program models, learning and research materials, news about what is happening in the field, event listings, contact information and helpful websites.

Feature of the Month puts the spotlight on a document, an organization, a program or a website.

For the month of September, NALD@Work is highlighting a workplace education program:

New Brunswick’s Workplace Essential Skills (WES) Program

New Brunswick’s Workplace Essential Skills (WES) Program

The New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour has implemented a training program that is benefitting many New Brunswickers.

The Workplace Essential Skills (WES) Program targets employers and employees in both the public and private sectors, in both official languages.

WES teams work throughout the province to:

  • conduct workplace training needs assessments
  • develop customized training that reflects the distinct needs of employees
  • provide resources for quality training
  • offer continued support throughout the training process, and
  • measure how well training objectives and employers’ expectations are being met

Certain aspects of the WES program are unique in Canada. In addition to its bilingual delivery, it is based on a comprehensive WES curriculum and is offered free of charge to all employers regardless of size or sector.

Funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick through the Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreement, the WES program continues to expand. It currently includes 38 initiatives around the province.

WES is managed by seven regional offices. In addition, two new Centres of Excellence – one in Bathurst and the other in Saint John – provide leadership and expertise to help carry the WES program forward. The centres offer support in the development of training materials, help to build training delivery capacity, and conduct networking activities with provincial and national organizations.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure their employees have the essential skills they need to succeed in the workplace. The WES program stands to benefit the individuals who need educational help, the employers who would reap the rewards of increased employee skill levels and productivity, and the economy that these workplaces support.

To learn more about the WES program, visit the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour website or call 1-877-444-0510.

To recommend a Feature of the Month, send your suggestion to communication@naldatwork.ca or contactnald@nald.ca.

Archives:

August 2010: A Multi-Faceted Approach to Literacy Skills Development at De Beers Canada

July 2010: British Columbia Labour Market Outlook

June 2010: Stella Burry Community Services Workplace Literacy Project

May 2010: The HR CheckUp

April 2010: Workplace Bullying Institute

March 2010: NALD’s Top 20 downloads

February 2010: Student Assessment in Adult Basic Education: A Canadian Snapshot

January 2010: Workplace Informal Learning Matrix

December 2009: Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services

November 2009: Canadian Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA)

October 2009: Frontier College

September 2009: Youth Skills

August 2009: The Learning Centre at Cavendish Farms

July 2009: Possibilities Online Employment Resource Centre

June 2009: Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM)

May 2009: Literacy and Essential Skills Toolkit

April 2009: Bridging the Employment Gap for Learners with Low Level Literacy Skills

March 2009: Le Pacte pour l’emploi – the Employment Pact

February 2009: TradesInfo.ca

January 2009: Learning in Solidarity: A Union Approach to Worker-Centred Literacy (2002)

December 2008: Second Career

November 2008: Applications of Working and Learning National Project

October 2008: The Clarity Kit: Effective Communication for Municipalities

September 2008: Learn@Work Week, an initiative of CSTD