Eighteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

Canadian society is characterized by a plurality of immigrants and, the Canadian migration policy is strongly geared to economic criteria and educational attainment. This project aims to gain knowledge, through a mixed method approach, into how immigrants to Canada use their foreign qualifications and competences in their current employment. This paper focuses on the results of twelve qualitative case studies conducted in Canadian enterprises to identify approaches and methods, which employers use to make decisions regarding foreign qualification and competence recognition. The fundamentals and reference points of these decisions, the considered information as well as the differing approaches and methods used are investigated. Regarding the individuals, the analysis focuses on how immigrants present and document their foreign qualifications and competences to employers. The selection and proposal of further qualification measures by employers and education providers to immigrants and their underlying principles are investigated. The case studies consider the health and information technology sectors, which vary in their degree of regulation and occupational requirements. The project refers to the theoretical concepts of signaling and screening and aim to make an empirical contribution regarding the relevance of information in the recognition of foreign qualifications and competences.