WES Blog

Written by Ashley Taylor, Senior Partnership & Strategy Associate for the Mariam Assefa Fund NEW YORK—(December 19, 2024) This year, we proudly celebrate the fifth year of the Fund Ambassadors Program alongside the WES Mariam Assefa Fund’s five-year anniversary. Since its launch in 2020, the Fund Ambassadors Program has empowered WES staff to have a […]

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and World Education Services (WES) have signed an agreement to streamline the verification and transfer of digital academic records from India. Under the partnership, NSDC will enable the fast and secure transfer of verified digital academic documents from Indian education institutions and boards to WES.   NSDC is a non-profit […]

Simbarashe Muzariri, a WES credential evaluation applicant who works as an engineer in Zimbabwe, has a long-term goal of continuing his career abroad in Canada.  Education has played a defining role in Simbarashe’s life, greatly influencing his career path and goals. Now he’s preparing to unlock new opportunities by getting a WES credential evaluation.   Realizing […]

In June 2021, Colorado’s General Assembly took a vital step forward by passing HB21-1150 with bipartisan support, creating the Colorado Office of New Americans (ONA). In creating the office, the state recognized the importance of the social and economic inclusion of its immigrant population, which comprises nearly 10 percent of the state’s population. Leveraging the […]

In 2019, a network of Texas-based adult educators led by the Texas Workforce Commission’s Adult Education and Literacy (AEL) program joined the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) to ensure that the state’s adult education system was providing optimized support for its 894,000 college-educated immigrants and refugees, an estimated 21% of whom are unemployed or underemployed […]

Written by Olivia Fox, Program Intern at the WES Mariam Assefa Fund When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, racialized essential workers at the Cargill meatpacking plant in Alberta faced a disproportionately high risk of contracting the virus. The existing exploitative and dangerous work conditions in the meatpacking sector, such as crowded industrial spaces and […]

NEW YORK—(October 23, 2024)  Today, the World Education Services (WES) Mariam Assefa Fund announced that it is awarding a total of $1 million to 10 organizations that seek to increase civic engagement and leadership among immigrant and refugee community members. The awards, of $100,000 each, are part of an initiative called Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building […]

By Sifat Yusuf, Program Manager, WES Mariam Assefa Fund The immigrant-serving sector in Canada has faced growing challenges amid the country’s ever-shifting policies concerning immigrants and refugees. These challenges range from the impact of global events causing displacement, to the uncertainty of funding and resources, to policies that negatively impact people who hold temporary or […]

In the face of a $8.4 trillion racial wealth gap in the United States, solutions aimed at fostering economic equity are not only crucial, they serve as beacons of hope for tangible change.    Apis and Heritage Capital Partners (A&H), a Black-led impact investment firm founded in 2021, is addressing the racial wealth gap by […]

Are you considering a move from the Caribbean to the United States or Canada? If so, it’s important for you to know that you can continue your education or career without repeating studies that you’ve already completed in your home country.  Considerations when relocating with your Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate   Some employers in the […]

If you’re looking for new educational or career opportunities in the United States or Canada, having your international education evaluated offers many benefits. A credential evaluation report explains the value and equivalency of your academic qualifications to immigration regulators, admissions officers, and potential employers.   This article summarizes the top five reasons why you should obtain […]

From a young age, Bikram Malla developed a deep passion for technology and its potential to transform lives. As he grew, technology remained at the center of his goals. Now Bikram is exploring new opportunities and hopes to immigrate and secure work as an IT professional in Canada. Continue reading to learn about Bikram’s academic […]

In April 2024, the United States Department of Labor released the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Final Report, which analyzes barriers to economic inclusion as well as strategies for overcoming them. In its analysis of currently available resources, the report highlights the need for additional data on internationally trained immigrant and refugee job seekers. […]

St. Louis has one of the country’s fastest-growing immigrant and refugee populations, yet the city misses out on $57 million in taxable earnings each year due to their systemic underemployment and unemployment. In 2018, the International Institute of St. Louis (IISTL) joined the Skilled Immigrant Integration Program (SIIP) to address the barriers driving this disparity.  […]

In November 2023, Immigrants, Refugees Citizenship Canada (IRCC) released its Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026, outlining the targeted number of permanent residents admitted under all eligible programs for the next three years. According to the most recent plan, Canada will aim to welcome nearly 1.5 million new permanent residents by 2026.  This is welcome news for […]

To ensure that the credential evaluation process is as easy to understand as possible, we’ve compiled a variety of WES tools and resources designed to help you at every stage of the process. Read below to learn more.  1. Try the WES iGPA Calculator and Degree Equivalency Tool Before you begin your credential evaluation, we […]

Published in March 2024, the Department of Labor’s Bridging the Gap for New Americans report explores the barriers faced by internationally educated immigrants and refugees who seek to resume their careers in the United States. With our labor market increasingly in need of their skills and experience, the report highlights a key factor in workforce […]

In 2012, World Education Services – long known as the leading North American provider of academic credential evaluations for international students and immigrants seeking to work and study in the United States and Canada – made its first foray into systems-change social impact work with the official launch of WES Global Talent Bridge.   Our original […]

  Written by Mohammad Jawad Shahabi, Program Manager Last year, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund partnered with the Foundation of Greater Montreal (FGM) to support its 2023 Collective Fund for Social Equity, a participatory grantmaking initiative and a collaboration between several funders focused on supporting asylum seekers and refugees.   Asylum seekers and refugees face significant […]

For many immigrants and refugees entering the United States, the first priority is often survival. But Eduardo Esquivel and the New Mexico Dream Team go much further—engaging and educating their communities, pushing for policy and systems change, and helping undocumented and mixed-status families thrive.  Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, a 7-year-old Eduardo immigrated with his family […]