Articles by author: Brock University

• Research examines what Niagara employers look for in young job seekers

  Tuesday, February 28, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 24 February 2017 – R00042

  At the same time Brock University helps prepare graduates to be contributors to the Canadian economy, it is also conducting research that examines what employers are looking for in their new hires.

  A new policy brief set to be released by Brock’s Niagara Community Observatory
  sheds light on Niagara employers’ expectations of young job seekers.

  The brief — “Is there a skills gap? Understanding what Niagara employers are looking for in recent graduates” — will be released Tuesday, Feb. 28 in a discussion at Brock. The document addresses questions such as how important soft skills and technical expertise are and if there’s a skills gap related to young workers in Niagara.

  “This policy brief was based on a study that involved in-depth interviews with a wide variety of Niagara employers,” says Brock researcher and brief author Kate Cassidy.

  “We wanted to get a deep understanding of their perception of what it means to be career-ready today and if they see a gap in the skills and credentials young people are bringing to the workforce.

  “The goal of this project was to help identify what, if anything, is needed to improve the career-preparation of young people and what stakeholders are in the best position to be part of this process,” says Cassidy, who is also director of Brock’s Youth University.

  Cassidy will be among those at a presentation and discussion of this research, co-sponsored by Youth University and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.

  What: “Mind the Gap” panel discussion on the research brief, “Is there a skills gap? Understanding what Niagara employers are looking for in recent graduates”

  When: Tuesday, Feb. 28, 9 – 11 a.m.

  Where: Pond Inlet, Brock University

  Who: Kate Cassidy, director, Community Learning and Youth University at Brock University and author of the research brief. Panelists include: Mario De Divitiis, CEO of Niagara Workforce Planning Board, and Rachel Crane, chair of NEXTNiagara.

  WHY: to help young job seekers, employers, educators, families, the community and others address the “skills gap” common in today’s job market

  The NCO event is open to the public and media.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
   
  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock to announce experiential learning partnership with 2017 North American Indigenous Games

  Tuesday, February 28, 2017 | By Brock University

  MEDIA ADVISORY: 27 February 2017 – R00043

  A partnership between Brock University and the Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games will provide students with a unique experiential learning opportunity.

  Students from the major games field course offered by the Department of Sport Management will gain hundreds of hours of work experience by volunteering in the North American Indigenous Games, being held in Toronto this summer.

  The official announcement of the partnership will take place Wednesday, March 1 at Brock University.

  The North American Indigenous Games is the largest continental sporting and cultural gathering of Indigenous peoples. More than 5,000 athletes and 2,000 volunteers will take part in the eight-day event being held from July 16 to 23.

  This is the fourth time the Department of Sport Management has partnered with large-scale sporting events.

  Past games have included the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, the Ontario Winter Games in 2014 in Muskoka and the Ontario Summer Games in 2014 in Windsor.

  Media and the Brock community are invited to join Peter Tiidus, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and Marcia Trudeau-Bomberry, CEO of the 2017 North American Indigenous Games Host Society for the partnership announcement on Wednesday, March 1 at 11:30 a.m. in Brock’s Market Hall.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
   
  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases