This text is part of the special Higher Education notebook
After a first edition conducted in winter 2023 with managers from Bas-Saint-Laurent, the University of Quebec at Rimouski (UQAR) is bringing its training program in human resources management to the North Shore. This program designed for community organizations aims to support the sector in its efforts to attract and retain qualified personnel.
Around thirty participants from community organizations on the North Shore began training in human resources management on January 18, specially designed to meet the needs of the sector and the region.
Organized jointly by UQAR and the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), the 25-hour program will extend over two months and aims in particular to provide managers of these organizations with tools allowing them to demonstrate the attractiveness of their companies in the context of the labor shortage affecting Quebec. A situation which affects the sector all the more as the average income of its employees is below the provincial average. “Community organizations have tasted staff turnover before anyone else because we are not able to be competitive in terms of hourly salary rates,” says Émilie Saint-Pierre, coordinator of the Regional Table of community organizations (TROC) of Bas-Saint-Laurent.
Human resources, leadership and mental health
It is the TROC du Bas-Saint-Laurent which, under the impetus of the continuing education and off-campus training department of UQAR, and in collaboration with it, developed the backbone of the program today. offered on the North Shore.
It starts with seven group training sessions on themes related to human resources management, but not only. The development of skills in mobilization and leadership and change management is on the training menu, designed both by and for community organizations. “We developed it iteratively, in the form of back and forth between our experts and the members of the TROC,” explains Julien Lambrey de Souza, director of the continuing education department at UQAR.
After several meetings supervised by a content expert, the service’s educational advisors submitted proposals to the members of the TROC du Bas-Saint-Laurent in the form of a survey. This approach made it possible to validate their interest in the training and to clarify the themes to be covered. Among those retained are notably questions of psychological health and mental load. “Being equipped on this topic is very important, because community organizations do not have a human resources department. Most of the time, HR management relies on a small team which must manage a range of departments, in addition to the mission of the organization,” maintains Émilie Saint-Pierre.
In addition to the theoretical component, two coaching meetings in small groups, supervised by an approved human resources advisor (CRHA), are also scheduled to allow participants to discuss common issues. “In certain organized networks, particularly in education, management is used to meeting and discussing communities of practice. This is not common in the community. These exchanges with other colleagues are therefore very rich,” underlines Lise Beaulieu, general director of the organization Équijustice de l’Est, who took part in the first edition of the training.
Accessible training
The program currently offered to organizations on the North Shore is similar to that offered for Bas-Saint-Laurent in 2023, but has undergone some adjustments to best suit the reality of those registered. “The industries, demographic makeup and graduation rates are not the same. The clientele, and therefore the reality of the community organizations that support them, are therefore different,” underlines Mr. Lambrey de Souza, who adds that the adaptation of the program is taken care of by the training teachers: experts from UQAR, UQAC and the National School of Public Administration (ENAP).
In the interest of accessibility, the training is also given remotely in order to cover the entire territory of the region and is offered at a reduced price — $135 per participant — thanks to the support of the Regional Directorate of Services Québec de la Côte -North.
At the end of the adventure, participants will leave with educational materials and tools allowing them to put into practice the theory taught during the master presentations. “In the recruitment aspect, there will be a persona exercise to better understand the different candidate pools. A checklist will also be provided for designing attractive job offers on social media,” the director cites as an example. A training certificate will also be issued to learners. “They are usually recognized by professional orders or by employers as part of their recognition policy,” he adds.
A model built on partnership
The methodology used to design the program aligns with the modus operandi of UQAR’s continuing education department, the vast majority of whose projects are tailor-made for partner organizations. “We serve a vast territory including community, public and parapublic organizations as well as private companies. We want to work with these organizations to meet their needs, but it has to be co-constructed, it involves a real partnership,” emphasizes Julien Lambrey de Souza.
Of the many lessons that Lise Beaulieu draws from her training, she will choose to share this one with us: “The attractiveness of the job is not just the salary. It is also about offering working conditions aligned with 2024. Offering all people who frequent our organization, even for a short time, to feel welcomed and well treated. Who knows, maybe they will come back to us. »
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.