Passport to Prosperity – Questions and Answers

For more than a decade, the Passport to Prosperity program has supported educators and employers in developing experiential learning opportunities for high school students as a cost-effective solution to recruiting, training and retaining young workers.   Passport to Prosperity is a province wide campaign that seeks to provide communities with the tools and resources to respond to their local workforce development needs and contribute to the growth of the local economy. Today, more than 26,000 employers across Ontario have recognized the value of incorporating student programs into their human resources strategies

What is Passport to Prosperity?
Passport to Prosperity is a province-wide campaign to increase employer awareness of and participation in school-work programs. The campaign is an employer-led recruitment effort to provide opportunities for students to explore career options and develop workplace skills and experience.

The Provincial Partnership Council (PPC) leads this effort and is comprised of key leaders from private, public and voluntary sectors. The PPC works closely with the Ontario Ministry of Education; the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities; and the Ontario Business Education Partnership representing business-education councils and local training boards.

Video: Passport to Prosperity: Tapping into your future workforce 

Who are the partners supporting school-work initiatives?
The Provincial Partnership Council, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO), Ontario Chamber of Commerce, The Toronto Board of Trade, The Ontario Business Education Partnership, and TVOntario.

What are school-work opportunities?
Work experiences vary in length, depending on the type of program that students select and the level of time and effort employers are willing to provide. School-work opportunities include workplace tours, job shadowing, mentoring, cooperative education, school-work transitions, and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.

How is the work placement planned?
Before the student begins his or her work placement, the employer, the student and the teacher jointly develop a learning plan. This plan identifies the work skills and learning expectations to be pursued at the workplace and how they relate to classroom learning.

What are the students expected to learn in work experiences?
Work experiences help students develop good work habits and behaviours, employability and citizenship skills. Students should also gain experience in managing resources, working with others and working with technologies. The work experience is an opportunity for students to see how their in-school learning is applied in the workplace.

What are employers expected to do?
Employers help demonstrate the work ethic and culture required of a successful and responsible employee, while providing a safe and healthy environment for the student. Some of the functions the workplace supervisor may perform include: training, mentoring, supervising and coaching.

Why should employers get involved?
As changing demographics place increased strain on the supply of skilled resources, school-work programs can help build the talent pool. Employers can help the next generation of workers make the transition into the labour market and develop critical employability skills while giving existing employees the opportunity to improve their own skills in communication, team work and management. School-work programs offer employers a cost-effective solution to recruiting, training and retaining younger workers.

Which students are eligible?
All students can benefit from work experiences. For longer work experiences students are screened to ensure that they have the maturity, interest, skills and knowledge needed in a work placement. Students have to demonstrate their readiness for a placement with an employer.

What kind of support do employers receive?
Schools assist with the recruiting, screening, matching and ongoing problem solving. Teachers arrange and attend monitoring meetings with the student and the supervisor at the workplace.

How will this program work in a small business?
The program requirements for students are the same regardless of the size of the business. The school maintains an ongoing relationship with the employer, providing support and problem-solving assistance.

Is there a cost associated with participation?
No, there is no obligation for employers to pay students. However, some choose to compensate students for after-school or summer work, and some offer an honorarium. The cost of personal protective equipment may be covered by the employer.

Do employers have to pay for insurance and workers’ compensation?
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) coverage is paid by the Ministry of Education for students on work experience, co-operative education, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship and school-work transition programs.