Settlement Program Pending Replacement of Data Collection Tool (DCT) by iCARE / iCAMS

Last Updated on July 16, 2014

Operational Bulletin 507 – March 15, 2013

Summary

The Data Collection Tool (DCT) is nothing more than an Excel spreadsheet, in use since 2010. Officers use this spreadsheet for collecting data on various participants. These participants had enrolled in language training projects, which were similar to the Enhanced Language Training (ELT) initiative. The authorities had discontinued this Enhanced Language Training (ELT) in 2008.

Service providers would need to continue using the Data Collection Tool (DCT). They would use it for participants, who have enrolled themselves until March 31, 2013. They would use it in a project that is very similar to the Enhanced Language Training (ELT).

The authorities anticipate that the participants would complete their projects by June. This would mean that the service providers would complete and submit the last Data Collection Tools (DCTs) sometime during the summer of 2013.

The authorities have mandated that any participants in new ELT-like labour market projects would need to register themselves in:

• The Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) and,
• This would be for labour market information
• The Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS)
• This would be for language information

The authorities believe that the Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) would replace the Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS). They expect this to take place by December 2013.

Issue

The authorities had planned to replace the Data Collection Tool (DCT). However, they knew that they would need other viable alternatives. These alternatives would be useful for labour market oriented language training projects.

Hence, they came up with:

• The Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) and,
• The Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS)

These would come into effect starting April 01, 2013.

Background

The authorities introduced a modernised Settlement Program in 2008. With the introduction of this program, the Enhanced Language Training initiative concluded. However, the authorities devised a definition for ELT-like projects. This would come into use for the purpose of data collection.

The service providers continue to use:

• The Data Collection Tool (DCT) and,
• Various accompanying client contact consent forms

Service providers use these for ELT-like projects, which are projects that include:

• At least 150 hours of language instruction, which has an orientation towards the workplace
• At least 30 hours or more of preparation for employment and.
• Practical experience that would typically include:
• Work placements
• Job shadowing or,
• Mentoring

The Data Collection Tool (DCT) data are significant components of the performance measurement system. This is especially so for language training projects, which have an orientation towards the labour market. Since 2010, service provider organisations have completed the Data Collection Tool (DCT) for each participant in their projects. However, only service provider organisations that offer ELT-like projects have done this.

When the participants enrol in an ELT-like project, the service provider organisations enter the data first. This Data Collection Tool (DCT) contains data on:

• The results of the language assessments and,
• The types of other workplace oriented training that participants generally receive

The participants eventually complete the third component, comprising the practical work experience. Once they do this, the service provider organisations complete the Data Collection Tool (DCT). These courses usually have a duration ranging from four to five months.

The Research and Evaluation Branch of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has planned to phase in a replacement of the Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS). They would do this by replacing it with the Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE). This replacement would take place with effect from April 01, 2013.

Service provider organisations would need to continue to complete the Data Collection Tool (DCT) for the participants. They would especially need to do this for participants, who have already enrolled themselves in an ELT-like project prior to April 01. Effective April 01, the authorities would enter all new participants in ELT-like projects, into:

• The Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) system and,
• The Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) system

The Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) system collects data on labour market aspects of projects. The Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) system collects data on language training. By December, the authorities would modify the Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) system. This would enable them to incorporate the data, which currently resides in the Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) system.

• For participants registered in ELT-like projects prior to April 01, 2013:
• Service provider organisations would need to continue using the Data Collection Tool (DCT) for participants
• They would use it for participants, who were enrolled prior to April 01, in an ELT-like project
• The authorities expect these projects to conclude by June
• In short, they expect the service provider organisations to complete and submit the last Data Collection Tools (DCTs) sometime in the summer of 2013
• For participants registered in ELT-like projects from April 01, 2013 onwards:
• Service provider organisations would need to enter data for their participants in:
• The Immigration Contribution Agreement Reporting Environment (iCARE) system and,
• The Immigration Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) system

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)