WES Blog

In 2015, growing political instability drove José* from his home country of Venezuela, forcing him to leave behind a successful career in journalism and advertising. With support from numerous WES Global Talent Bridge (GTB) partners, including New York University, Upwardly Global, and Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid (VIA), José has learned how to leverage his multicultural […]

On January 17, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund welcomed our new Senior Director, Léa Tienou-Gustafson. Léa comes to us from the Chicago non-profit Heartland Alliance, where she served as director of refugee and immigrant community services, supporting over a thousand refugees and immigrants annually. Léa has more than 15 years of experience working with and […]

Immigrant Youth and the Canadian Labour Market Expanding access to work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities is essential to improving post-pandemic employment outcomes for immigrant youth and helping to ensure their long-term success. When coupled with academic pursuits, early participation in the workforce strongly increases the likelihood of sustained labour force inclusion in occupations related to a […]

Betzabeth worked as an engineer in Venezuela’s expansive petroleum sector. But the country’s growing political instability forced Betzabeth and her husband Felix, a fellow energy engineer, to seek asylum in the United States. With support from WES Global Talent Bridge partners Venezuelans and Immigrants Aid (VIA) and International Rescue Committee (IRC), Betzabeth has accessed a […]

Are you interested in becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada?  If you’ve recently relocated to Canada, or if you’re planning to relocate soon, you’ll likely want to start learning about the most recent guidelines and fastest pathways to achieve your goals. Even if you’re certified in your home country, you might need to […]

This week, the IMPRINT Coalition concluded the #UntappedTalent campaign – IMPRINT’s first national awareness-raising initiative to advance policy reforms that are inclusive of immigrant and refugee workers in the United States. Since September 2021, the campaign has received overwhelming support from more than 130 organizations, including 23 international, 30 U.S. national, and 78 local organizations […]

As 2023 state legislative sessions begin across the United States, policymakers have the opportunity to promote economic inclusion and open career pathways for immigrants and refugees. Immigrants and refugees have education, credentials, and experience that could help meet immediate workforce needs and bolster the nation’s long-term economic vitality. Policy reforms that ensure an inclusive workforce […]

Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) matches refugees abroad with career opportunities in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. TBB works directly with governments around the world to open up skilled migration pathways to refugees. Through a grant from the WES Mariam Assefa Fund, TBB is collaborating with Jumpstart Refugee Talent (Jumpstart), a national, refugee-led organization that […]

The socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have created a unique climate for youth navigating the Canadian labour market. These impacts have also shed light on long-standing trends wherein high rates of educational success may not translate to commensurate employment outcomes for emerging talent; including immigrant youth. To better understand why this breakdown occurs, and […]

When WES Global Talent Bridge program manager, Mikaela Santos, visited Chemeketa Community College in November 2022, she sat down with several internationally trained immigrants and refugees who had just completed a career assistance program, Empowering Professional Immigrant Careers (EPIC), at the college’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) department. EPIC previously received technical assistance through the […]

When you order a credential evaluation from World Education Services (WES), you have the option of choosing between two packages: basic or International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP).   It can be helpful to know the difference before you begin your application for a WES credential evaluation. This post will explain how ICAP can save you time, […]

For many students around the world, the dream of studying in the United States lives on. Higher education in the U.S. is still highly coveted and remains very popular among international students.  According to U.S. News and World Report, half of the world’s top universities are in the U.S., and 15 of those rank in the […]

Did you receive a WES Document-by-Document (DxD) report to support your employment, education, or immigration goals in the United States or Canada? As opportunities arise in your new home country, you could benefit from upgrading your report to a WES Course-by-Course (CxC) evaluation.   In this blog post, we will explore a few reasons to consider […]

“Investing in immigrant and refugee inclusion is investing in the future of America.” —Eva Millona, Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security     Eva Millona, a panelist at the World Education Services (WES) Economic Inclusion Forum, captured the prevailing sentiment at this gathering of nationwide partners, immigrant and […]

In 2022, the job vacancy rate surged to a new record – one million jobs went unfilled. Meanwhile our population continues to age, and the workforce is shrinking. Labour and skills shortages are growing more acute in every sector. Policymakers are looking to increase immigration intake levels alongside streamlined measures to get more newcomers into […]

As the year winds down, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund team is reflecting on the extraordinary organizations, leaders, and efforts that inspired us.  In 2022, we funded a total of 66 organizations across the United States and Canada, including 39 brand-new partners, who are increasing access to opportunity, building wealth, shifting power, and advancing justice […]

If you are considering moving to the U.S. to study, you have probably learned how complex the process can be! We are here to help with a three-part guide to make your move as seamless as possible.   Below is the first part in our guide. It discusses ways to pay for school and life […]

Earlier this year, the WES Mariam Assefa Fund announced a $1.5 million partnership with Echoing Green to launch the Racial Equity and Immigrant Justice initiative, a fellowship to support immigrants and refugees of color in the United States and Canada. Through Echoing Green’s fellowship program, the initiative is supporting 19 Fellows — six brand-new Fellows, […]

The WES Academic Records Request Form makes it quicker and easier to request your academic documents from the institution where you were educated. It officially authorizes the release of an applicant’s academic records, so that you can use it in person or remotely. This is especially convenient for applicants who no longer live in the […]

If you are considering study or work in the U.S. or Canada, you will most likely need a credential evaluation report.   A credential evaluation report from WES provides an accurate and authenticated record of the educational or professional qualifications you earned in other countries, including degrees, diplomas, and transcripts. WES credential evaluation reports help schools, […]