The World Bank Banks On EDUC-INTER Inc. Software

Can even small and medium sized companies create market niches with an International Financial Institution (IFI)? The answer is a definite 'yes,' as is shown by the experience of Montreal-based EDUC-INTER Inc. A consulting firm that has been in the education and training business since 1996, EDUC-INTER recently obtained a contract worth $US500,000 from the World Bank. The key was demonstrating how Canadian expertise in information technology applications can foster a better relationship between the world of education and the world of employment.

The problems of unemployment and underemployment among educated youth and skilled workers is a common one in developing countries around the world. In Panama, this problem is particularly acute with an unemployment rate of around 15%. Yet Panamanian industry does not have rapid access to a large pool of qualified job candidates. The World Bank sought to help resolve the problem by developing a national Internet employment-based system for Panama, and then if successful extend the scope of the project to include other markets in Latin America, starting with Mexico.

EDUC-INTER won the contract with a proposal to create a customized version of the National Graduate Registry, an employment-creation tool used by the Canadian Government to bring together university and college graduates and prospective employers. This new system, called Estudiosempleos will improve Panamanians' access to a wide array of pertinent employment information. This includes employment opportunities, career planning assistance, employment creation trends, and useful labour data on the national and international job market. Estudiosempleos will also provide on site training such as resume writing courses, on-line career counseling and other community education tools.

The EDUC-INTER solution also provides secondary school graduates in Canada and Latin America with access to an on-line recruitment process that means Canadian educational institutions (universities, colleges, language schools etc.) can now recruit potential students much more cost effectively .

EDUC-INTER has also developed a new seminar that shows others how to build on its success, " How to Win Contracts from the World Bank and IFIs," for the training and education sector in Canada.

For more information, contact :

Alexandra Wood
Export Financing Division, DFAIT
Tel.: (613) 944-0910
Email: alexandra.wood@international.gc.ca