Skills Enhancement for Newcomers
Gain skills to succeed in Canadian workplaces
Skills Enhancement for Newcomers (SEN) offers free microcredentials to help you build skills and improve your chances of finding work in Canada. Nova Scotia Community College has been selected as a partner to facilitate the delivery of these microcredentials on behalf of Colleges & Institutes Canada (CICan) via the Skills Enhancement for Newcomers program. You can choose to take one or all three of the following courses:
- Communication - Learn how to be flexible and adapt to changes at work. In this course, you will learn to handle changes in schedules and work processes, be flexible and set goals for self-improvement.
- Collaboration - Learn how to work together with others in a team or with coworkers and clients. You'll learn to value different ideas, build strong relationships, focus on solutions and achieve common goals when working with a team.
- Adaptability - Improve your communication skills for the workplace. You will learn how to share information clearly, adapt to different situations, work well with others and set goals for self-improvement.
These microcredential courses certify you've gained valuable skills. You can complete them online, in English or French, at your own pace and from anywhere. Each microcredential takes about 20 hours to complete. Certificates will be issued following the completion of the microcredential by CICan.
Who is eligible
A newcomer to Canada of at least 18 years old. A newcomer is defined as a citizen, refugee, or permanent resident who has been living in Canada for less than 5 years and who is legally entitled to work and study in Canada. Note, International students or those on work visas are not eligible to participate.
Students are recommended to have:
- A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 6+ in all four skills (writing, reading, speaking and listening) (proof of benchmark required as part of application)
- Minimum high school education or equivalent.
- Access to a computer or laptop and reliable internet.
- Some relevant work experience, in any industry, either international or Canadian
- Basic digital skills. Specifically, students will need to be able to independently navigate new digital environments, such as the Learning Management System.
When and how to apply
The SEN microcredentials will be available to 40 newcomers in Nova Scotia between September 2023 and January 2024.
Designed for your success
Professionals from different fields like healthcare, construction, and manufacturing and supply chain industries have helped design these microcredentials. While they're perfect for these industries, they can also be useful in other jobs.