National Adult Literacy Database

The National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) will host a webinar on its digital library Wednesday, May 8, 2013, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Atlantic time.

Memorial’s Yaffle is a sophisticated online resource that allows users to find an expert, query research being done by the university in their geographic region, and even suggest research ideas. Compiled by the university’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development, the new resource is a search engine of Memorial’s expertise and community development resources.

There’s still time to participate in Canadian Literacy and Learning Network’s (CLLN’s) national survey of the Literacy and Essential Skills (L/ES) workforce. The survey is scheduled to end on April 30.

This is a reminder that the National Adult Literacy Database (NALD) has taken steps to enhance its popular online library. NALD library users have the opportunity to post their comments when accessing and making use of online resources. This interactive feature is designed to help promote the high calibre of the NALD library offerings and also to assist users in their search for resources that are best suited to their purposes.

I DO BUSINESS - National Summit & Tradeshow was held on March 4-6, 2013 in Toronto. The three-day event was a great success, with over 150 individuals participating from coast to coast to coast. This National Summit boasted a variety of top-notch speakers on business and Aboriginal Entrepreneurship. Participants also noted that the networking opportunities were excellent, with many people leaving the event with binders full of business cards representing new opportunities and new friends.

There was a time when a University degree assured you a of good job, good pay and a comfortable life. Not any more. Today, the unemployment rate for young people in this country is close to 15% – double that of the general population. But the real crisis is the increasing number of university and college grads who are underemployed – scraping by on low-paid, part-time jobs that don’t require a degree.

The federal government has announced a significant investment in Canada's colleges and polytechnics through the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The announcement was part of the Minister of State's keynote address at the Association of Canadian Community Colleges' Applied Research Symposium.

The Office of Literacy and Essential Skills (OLES) invites eligible organizations to submit concept papers to indicate their interest in being part of a pan-Canadian network (PCN) focused on improving the labour market outcomes of Canadians through strengthened literacy and essential skills (LES).

Adult Learners' Week is an opportunity for all adults to take a pause and think about their own learning. What did I learn in the past year? What am I in the middle of learning right now and what should I be thinking about learning next?

Following an increase the previous month, employment declined by 55,000 in March, all in full-time work. The unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 7.2 per cent.

A new report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce says Canada must upgrade the skills of its domestic workforce, including the essential skills that are critical for improved training outcomes and productivity growth.

This is the week we celebrate adult learners here in our community and across the country for their commitment to lifelong learning. The time and energy they devote to learning have personal benefits but also improves our communities and workplaces. Adult Learners’ Week is also the perfect opportunity to explore the many types of learning available to adults from all walks of life.