New on-campus partnership to provide French proficiency training for public service

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University of Prince Edward Island is partnering with the Centre d’excellence en français (CEF) on campus to provide French proficiency training for the Public Service Commission of Prince Edward Island.. 

The partnership, created in response to a request for proposals from the Public Service Commission of PEI, aims to help the Province of Prince Edward Island improve the quality of French and the capacity of bilingual staff members in the civil service and at Health PEI to deliver service in French to the public under the French Language Services Act.

The Centre d’excellence en français is located in the University’s modern languages department. It boasts everything that would cater to the needs of provincial government employees, such as

• trainers who are highly experienced in their field;
• a bilingual and francophone faculty;
• excellent knowledge of the local context when it comes to offering French language services on the Island;
• experience and capacity to offer online and tailor-made programs (e.g., in the health sector);
• experience in matters related to continuing learning and self-directed learning.

The CEF facilitates and encourages work in both official languages on campus. Through community outreach and teaching assistance, it aims to increase the role of UPEI in French education in the province. The CEF serves as a hub for community interactions and outreach, providing resources, linkages, and cultural services for students, faculty, staff, and the broader community.

The OCEPD is committed to helping graduates and adult learners gain valuable employability skills. The OCEPD specializes in management and leadership development, focusing on providing effective and results-based training that meets the needs of its clients regardless of their education level, background, learning style, or current level of expertise. Its instructors are knowledgeable in the subject matter, skilled in adult learning methods, and practitioners of the subject matter they are teaching.

In the classroom setting and online one-on-one sessions, students will be able to strengthen their foundational skills and apply them in real life in a conversational setting, which is key in gaining confidence to deal with clients in the workplace.