We are proud to have The Chang School join TRIEC Mentoring Partnership as a community partner.
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University is the school of choice for career-driven learners. We offer over 75 career-related programs and 800 online courses – including a diverse offering of certificates, microcredentials, post-graduate and degree-credit courses. Our flexible, innovative programs are designed to help continuous learners acquire in-demand skills and thrive in the future of work. With personalized academic and career advising, financial support, and career-focused industry events, we have everything continuous learners need to build their careers.
Tej Wadhwa, Program Manager, Gateway for International Professionals at The Chang School shares why they wanted to be involved in the program.
- What inspired The Chang School to become a TMP Community Partner?
The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education at Toronto Metropolitan University (The Chang School) has a long-standing commitment to delivering transformative learning experiences that advance the career goals and future readiness of continuous learners. That commitment extends to internationally trained professionals, who bring significant education and professional experience to Canada but can face unique challenges when navigating a new labour market.
Through Gateway for International Professionals, The Chang School supports 150 immigrant professionals annually through the Workplace Communication in Canada (WCC) Bridging Program and the Middle-level Managers with Technical Background (MLM) Bridging Program. These programs prepare graduates for employment through targeted skills development and wraparound employment support.
For The Chang School, partnering with TRIEC’s Mentoring Partnership was a natural extension of that work. Education and skills development are important, but career success is also shaped by relationships, networks, and access to people who understand the Canadian workplace.
TRIEC’s established mentoring model allows us to complement the supports already offered through Gateway by connecting learners with occupation-specific mentors and professional networks. It creates another bridge between learning and employment, helping internationally trained professionals translate their existing experience into new opportunities in Canada.
- How will this partnership benefit newcomers participating through The Chang School?
One of the most valuable things we can provide learners is not simply knowledge, but access to the people and communities that can help them put their learning into practice.
Mentorship can help bridge an important confidence gap. Internationally trained professionals arrive with considerable skills and experience, but may need to learn how those strengths translate within the Canadian labour market. Having a mentor who can provide added context, insights, and encouragement can make that transition more navigable. Ultimately, the partnership strengthens the connection between learning and career opportunity, helping improve employment outcomes.
Through this partnership, Gateway learners connect with experienced professionals who can provide industry-specific insight, career guidance, and perspectives on navigating the Canadian workplace. These relationships can help participants better understand their industry, expand their professional networks and identify pathways they may not otherwise have access to.
- What value does this partnership bring to The Chang School and its community?
The partnership allows The Chang School to strengthen our existing ecosystem of employment support for internationally trained professionals.
TRIEC has an established mentoring network and infrastructure that we can leverage and complement to connect newcomers with experienced professionals and employers. Bringing these capabilities together means we can build on existing expertise rather than duplicate services.
There is also an opportunity to deepen connections across The Chang School community. Our Chang School alumni and industry connections could support newcomers as mentors and provide valuable employer connections.
- How does this partnership align with The Chang School’s broader goals and commitment to supporting newcomer success?
Supporting newcomer success is closely connected to The Chang School’s broader goal of building strong local partnerships that contribute to workforce development and community impact. Our partnership with TRIEC is a strong example of that goal in action. By connecting Gateway learners with experienced mentors and professional networks, we are bringing together education, industry, and community expertise to help internationally trained professionals navigate the Canadian labour market and build on the skills and experience they already have.
By working collaboratively with organizations like TRIEC, The Chang School can help create stronger pathways from learning and experience to meaningful employment and long-term career success.
- What would you say to other organizations considering becoming a TMP Community Partner?
We would encourage organizations to consider how a partnership with TRIEC can strengthen and extend the work they are already doing to support immigrant professionals.
First, it can enhance program impact. Mentoring provides participants with access to experienced professionals, occupation-specific networks, and practical career guidance. These connections can strengthen employment readiness and help immigrant professionals navigate their path toward meaningful employment in Canada.
Second, it creates opportunities to expand connections. The partnership brings together immigrant professionals, mentors, alumni, employers and community partners, creating a broader network of relationships and opportunities. For our learners, these connections can open doors to new perspectives and professional networks; for organizations, they can create opportunities to collaborate and learn from others working toward the same goal.
Becoming a TRIEC Community Partner is an opportunity to strengthen what you already do while becoming part of a broader network working together to improve employment outcomes for immigrant professionals.
If your organization would like to become a community partner with TRIEC Mentoring Partnership, visit our Become a Community Partner page to learn more or email us to schedule a talk – mentoring@triec.ca.