Follow the air of time

Secretary or programmer-analyst, lawyer or worker of manufacturing industry, nobody can from now on avoid the metamorphoses of the labour market. The fast evolution of the knowledge and technologies are realities to which it is necessary to know to adapt to remain competitive. A levelling which can be carried out in several ways, but which less and less often requires a return on the benches of school. "the objective is to use the formation continues to increase its competences and to preserve its competitiveness, specifies Michel Blanchet, careers adviser.

It should not be obligatorily related to the practice of the profession, it can allow, for example, to familiarize itself with a new working tool, like Internet." "the formation continues is granted mainly in work environment and makes it possible to bring up to date the initial formation according to the various tasks of the employee, of the evolution of technologies, the changes of employment or the context in which it work", summarizes Andrée Longpré, MBA, Adm.A., in charge of projects in RD in the Research center LICEF of the Tele-university. Self-discipline the professional growth is initially an individual step. It is with each one to improve its competences in order to better face the challenges. This task is carried out by using networks of information, as well official as semi-official: while documenting itself at the time of the realization of a new project, by carrying out many readings, while taking part in congresses and workshops, by traversing the range of the courses offered by its employer, the institutions of teaching and the trade associations. In short, the worker must seize all the occasions. "15 years ago, I knew that data processing was going to become a significant asset, then I went to seek this competence, tells Michel Blanchet.

Today, certain careers advisers do not use Internet yet! They are completely exceeded, since one finds there information much more recent than in guides on paper." The members of professional natures must follow each year a minimum of hours of improvement in a relevant field to their practice. This step of formation makes it possible to update knowledge of these professionals, thus ensuring the safety of the public. A study carried out by the Order of the engineers of Quebec in 1996 revealed that 87 % of the engineers are devoted to a formation individualized by personal readings and research, while 68 % attend conferences and to congresses and 47 % lectures follow. A honourable performance. To manage the Promouvoir knowledge the formation continues seems also the leitmotiv of the companies of the new economy, whose output rests from now on on the knowledge, rather than on the capital or the natural resources. It is what notices Gerald Ponton, president of the Alliance of the manufacturers and exporters of Quebec: "the formation continues, it is a pledge of success of the company. If the latter does not train its personnel, it will not improve its productivity and will not be able to survive. It is as clear as that!

" Besides several companies prepare to take over school to fill the differences between the formation and employment. This new engine of development fits more and more in a collective context, according to Andrée Longpré. "Formerly, it was a question of development of career for the individual. Within the framework of their strategy aiming at increasing their competitiveness, the companies speak now about the management of the savoirs." Zoom the activities of continuous training offered in the companies québécoises took a step of giant last year. The budget devoted by the companies to these activities almost doubled, reaching 1,1 billion dollar, compared to 600 million in 1998. The data also reveal that 76 % of the companies respect the Law supporting the development of the formation of hand-to?uvre, which obliges the employers whose wage bill exceeds 250 000 $ to devote at least 1 % of this one to activities of formation