World Education Services

Recently, our customers experienced extended processing times for their credential evaluations. We are in the process of making system upgrades to enhance our efficiency so that, going forward, we can provide faster services to support customers on their journey. This happened at the same moment that we experienced an increase in requests for certain types of evaluations because of external policy changes. Our teams continue to work diligently to serve our customers each day, and we are returning to usual processing times, providing the dedicated service that has defined our credential evaluation operation during our 50-year history.   Thank you to our customers who got in touch to let us know that they had time-sensitive cases. We escalated each one of them. To everyone, thank you for your patience as we transitioned to a new system. We are also working on solutions to provide customers additional information about the status of their evaluation every step of the way.

Havenly in #NewHaven, Connecticut, is one of ten organizations receiving a $100K grant to amplify the influence of #immigrants and #refugees in their community as part of the Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building Inclusive Futures initiative from the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. With this funding, Havenly will empower refugee and immigrant women leaders with a six-month training program, English language resources, and civic education, along with organizing activities at their café and community center. Learn more about the initiative and the grantees here: https://ow.ly/7RuJ50TRHf4 #BuildingInclusiveFutures

The ownership economy isn’t just an idea—it’s a movement that’s gaining momentum. Last week at #SOCAP2024, our Senior Director Smitha Das moderated a panel focused on broad-based ownership models. Panelists Jim Sorenson, Founder, Sorenson Impact Group, Santhosh Ramdoss, President & CEO, Gary Community Ventures, and Brian Boland, Co-Founder, Delta Fund shared inspiring stories of their impact-investing journeys, and offered insights into how scaling ownership can bridge the wealth gap, drive economic stability, and create new pathways to build assets. Panelists also shared strategies for reshaping wealth creation, underscoring how applying an ownership lens across investments can create opportunities for more people to succeed.

WES recently announced that it is contributing almost $400,000 into a new scholarship initiative to support over 20 #refugee students studying on U.S. and Canadian campuses during the 2025/26 academic year. This initiative is possible thanks to collaboration with three partner organizations: -Community Sponsorship Hub plays a vital role in fostering community-based support for #refugees, across the U.S. -World University Service of Canada (WUSC - EUMC) is dedicated to promoting the rights and opportunities for refugee students to pursue higher education. -Southern New Hampshire University is committed to providing support to ensure its campus welcomes students from all backgrounds. WES unveiled the initiative at its recent 50 anniversary celebration. It marks a significant milestone in WES' history of collaboration with partners supporting refugees and international students. Read the announcement: https://ow.ly/Uy8s50TTJ2O

We're looking forward to exhibiting at #CBIE2024. Come meet our team in the Exhibition Hall at Booth 16!

At WES, stewardship of our social enterprise includes a commitment to leveraging every pathway to impact. Mission-aligned investing is part of that commitment. This week at #SOCAP2024 our team, including Esther T. Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director, Smitha Das, Senior Director, Investments, Sid R. Hargro, Board Vice-Chair, alongside Ford Foundation's Margot Brandenburg, Senior Program Officer, hosted a panel, “Unlocking Maximum Impact: A Roadmap to 100% Mission-Aligned Investing at a Global Social Enterprise,” and shared WES’ journey towards 100% mission-aligned investing by 2030. Key takeaways: - There is an urgency for mission-aligned investing to accelerate impact and drive WES’ mission of supporting immigrants, refugees, and international students. - Forward-thinking leadership enabled WES to re-imagine how its resources could better serve communities - Impact investing is an ongoing journey that requires embracing a mindset of learning, flexibility, and collaboration. “As WES celebrates 50 years of advancing economic, educational, and social inclusion for immigrants, refugees, and international students, our commitment to mission investing will expand the set of tools we can use to scale our impact. By aligning 100% of our resources with our values, we’re activating additional levers to ultimately drive systems change and enable people to thrive.” - Smitha Learn more about WES’ investment policy: https://lnkd.in/gpNPUJ4z

An action plan for a sustainable international education sector proposes eight recommendations in a report co-funded by WES and released by the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) | Bureau canadien de l’éducation internationale. “What we need to do is really think about a more co-ordinated approach across governments, departments, and levels of government,” said Shamira Madhany, WES Managing Director in Canada. The action plan recommendations include establishing a pan-Canadian international education council, developing a national global education brand strategy, and ensuring sufficient funding of post-secondary education. Read about the report at Toronto Star: https://ow.ly/SKkU50TUVr4 Access the report here: https://ow.ly/Z1Vk50TVskk

Alianza Americas in #Chicago, Illinois, is one of ten organizations receiving a $100K grant to amplify the influence of #immigrants and #refugees in their community as part of the Elevating Migrant Leadership: Building Inclusive Futures initiative from the WES Mariam Assefa Fund. With this funding, Alianza Americas will launch the Instituto de Liderazgo, a leadership program that trains Latin American and Caribbean immigrant leaders of community organizations to enhance their civic engagement. Learn more about the initiative and the grantees here: https://ow.ly/3A7A50TRGWF #BuildingInclusiveFutures

WES recently unveiled a nearly $400K scholarship initiative to support more than 20 #refugee students seeking to study in the U.S. and Canada. Three partners are joining WES in implementing the initiative, which will span the 2025/26 academic year. They are the U.S.-based Community Sponsorship Hub, World University Service of Canada (WUSC - EUMC), and Southern New Hampshire University. The funds will help to cover tuition, books, lodging, access to social services, and more. Announced at a WES' 50th anniversary celebration, the initiative reflects the organization’s long history of working closely with partners to support refugees and international students. “These scholarships reflect WES’ long-standing commitment to education and inclusion,” said Esther T. Benjamin, CEO and Executive Director of WES. “Working together with dedicated partners ... we are expanding opportunities for refugee students and ensuring that they have the support they need to succeed." Read the announcement: https://ow.ly/Uy8s50TTJ2O

Today, the Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada / Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the https://lnkd.in/gD9c2WFz 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan. As we parse what this means for the coming months and years, there is one message worth underscoring: immigration is Canada’s future. The reality is that 1 in 3 Canadians are retiring and birthrates are declining. We need newcomer talent to sustain our economy. Of course, the contributions that newcomers bring to our communities go beyond economics alone. And in a time of unprecedented forced displacement, we cannot lose sight of Canada's longstanding humanitarian commitments. As a country, we are facing numerous complex challenges, including housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and affordability. We need a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to solve for these issues while we ensure Canada doesn’t lag behind other countries when it comes to growth, innovation, and productivity. We call on all levels of government to develop a balanced plan for economic growth that leverages the skills of immigrants who are already here and that ensures that Canada can continue to attract top talent in an increasingly competitive global landscape. Ultimately, we call on policy makers and leaders across sectors to remain focused on our long-term economic, social, and humanitarian goals.