Advanced Education and Skills
March 20, 2014
Responding to the Needs of a Vibrant Economy
Department Re-organization Focused on Meeting Labour Market Demand
The Provincial Government announced today that it is moving forward with a reorganization of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills. The reorganization will make the department more responsive to the changing demands of today’s growing labour market and will occur without any job losses.
“The transformation that will occur within the Department of
Advanced Education and Skills over the next 12 months will ensure government
programs and services are helping people secure independence, employment and
prosperity, and support our commitment to reduce poverty, improve literacy
and foster inclusion. Staff have been informed of the changes that will
occur and once the reorganization is fully implemented, the staff complement
will remain at its current size.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and
Skills
Over the next year, the department will transform from six branches into five and include Workforce Development and Immigration, Post-Secondary Education, Community and Social Development, Regional Service Delivery, and Corporate Services, each lead by an Assistant Deputy Minister. These branches will contain 18 divisions in total, with increased integration of departmental strategies that focus on inclusion, poverty reduction and literacy to support community development.
“The Department of Advanced Education and Skills was created in the fall
of 2011 to help meet the growing demand for skilled labour, a demand fuelled
in part by major projects such as Muskrat Falls and Hebron. While there will
be some changes and movement within the department, this reorganization will
allow government to provide people with the skills, education and training
opportunities they require to foster independence and secure a prosperous
future right here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- Minister O’Brien
More details on the restructuring of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills can be found in backgrounder below.
Through sound fiscal management and responsible decisions, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is strengthening the business environment, encouraging the development of innovative industries and building a vibrant economy.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government is moving forward with the reorganization of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills.
- The reorganization will make the department more responsive to the changing demands of today’s labour market and will occur without any job losses – the staff complement will remain at its current size.
- The department will transform into five branches – Workforce Development and Immigration, Post-Secondary Education, Community and Social Development, Regional Service Delivery, and Corporate Services. These branches will contain 18 divisions.
- Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future provided more than $42 million to meet the growing demand for skilled workers, and to ensure residents are equipped to seize opportunities in the province’s vibrant economy.
- 30 -
Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Reorganization Structure of the Department of Advanced
Education and Skills
When complete, the reorganization of the Department of Education and Skills will result in five branches containing 18 divisions.
Workforce Development and Immigration Branch
The primary role of the new Workforce Development and Immigration Branch
will be to ensure that labour market and immigration-related polices,
programs, services and initiatives are strategically aligned to develop and
deploy a highly trained and skilled workforce to meet evolving labour market
demands in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The branch will be responsible for the administration of a broad range of client-focused, labour market-related programs designed to assist people in securing training and finding sustainable employment, and in helping employers meet significant labour supply challenges.
The branch will administer the Provincial Nominee Program, attraction, recruitment and multicultural initiatives of immigrants, and will fund settlement and integration programs. It will also consist of the Workforce Development Secretariat, Employment and Training Programs Division and the Skills and Labour Market Research Division.
Post-Secondary Education Branch
The Post-Secondary Education Branch will be responsible for supporting
the delivery of post-secondary education in the province through Memorial
University, College of the North Atlantic, and private training
institutions. The branch will also be responsible for adult learning and
literacy, the provision of financial assistance to post-secondary education
students, and programs and supports for apprenticeship and trades
certification.
The branch will consist of the Apprenticeship and Trades Certification Division, Student Financial Services Division, and the Literacy and Institutional Services Division.
Community and Social Development Branch
The Community and Social Development Branch will oversee policy and
strategic planning, program evaluation, statistics development and analysis,
the Income Support Program, grants and contract administration and will
develop a service improvement and quality assurance program. The branch will
also be responsible for coordination of the Strategy for the Inclusion of
Persons with Disabilities and the Poverty Reduction Strategy and support the
Income and Employment Support Appeal Board. This will be accomplished
through five divisions: Policy and Strategic Planning, Income and Social
Supports, Poverty Reduction, Disability Policy Office, and Service
Improvement and Quality Assurance.
Corporate Services Branch The Corporate Services Branch is responsible for the overall financial and information management functions of the department and will include the Financial Services Division, Information Management Division and the Student Loan Corporation.
Regional Service Delivery Branch
The Regional Service Delivery Branch will be responsible for the delivery
of Advanced Education and Skills programs and services throughout the
province. Staff will serve a large and varied client base including
individuals who are:
- Unemployed and underemployed;
- Affected by industry adjustment;
- Seeking to start a business;
- Seeking to change jobs
- High school students;
- Students or graduates of post-secondary educational institutions;
- Apprentices;
- Seeking spousal and child support;
- Needing employment supports, career planning or labour market information;
- Needing a supplement to earnings;
- Requiring support as a result of loss of income, disability, illness, homelessness, violence or disaster;
- Employers who need assistance with human resource planning, recruitment and retention, and workplace supports, such as wage subsidies and financial assistance for workplace training.
As part of the department’s shifting focus on enhancing employment services to individuals and employers, offices across the province will transform into Employment Centres that will focus on responding to the labour needs of individuals and employers. The branch will also focus on improving access to services through telephone, email, online and outreach services.
2014 03 20 2:30 p.m.