BRITISH COLUMBIA – A trio of universities are working together to help companies present students with Co-operative education and work-integrated learning experiences throughout northern and interior BC.
The University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) in Kelowna, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in Kamloops and the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) in Prince George are collaborating on a project titled INWIL – the Interior and Northern Work Integrated Learning Coalition. The initiative offers small and medium sized businesses resources and tools to connect with students from the institutions for workforce opportunities.
INWIL recently launched a resource hub to support organizations in addressing their hiring challenges while streamlining the process of hiring and engaging post-secondary students. The project team continues to host and record events to familiarize companies with the benefits of work-integrated learning (WIL), offering resources and tips for hiring students, and the opportunity to learn about the many financial supports available to help subsidize wages for student hires.
“A consistent topic that emerged during industry consultations was the labour shortage,” observes Dawn Sheldon, Marketing & Engagement Project Coordinator at UBCO. “These work-integrated learning programs offer a way for students to gain mentorship and experience to support their post-graduation career goals, while also collaborating with organizations to work on projects or solve problems to reach their goals and objectives.”
Mindy Gobbi, Co-op Education Marketing and Engagement Project Coordinator at UNBC, notes that the shared knowledge, resources and co-creation of the project by the three universities continues to be very worthwhile. “One of the most important aspects of this is it’s a reciprocal relationship between students, our communities and post-secondary institutions,” Gobbi states. “Work-integrated learning is centered around experiential learning for students, and benefits our communities at the same time.”
Jessi Guercio, Employer Liason Coordinator at TRU, adds: “There is no better time than now for organizations to leverage the capabilities a student can bring to their organization. Helping employers engage with skilled student talent helps support the changing needs of small and medium sized organizations.”
Work Integrated Learning integrates student academic studies within the workplace. Experiences include the partnership between the university, the student and the host organization – either a business or a place of community service. WIL can take place within the course or program and includes the development of learning outcomes related to employability, personal agency and life-long learning.
For businesses, it allows for an introduction to prospective long-term employees by having them work for an organization as part of their educational experience. Several funding opportunities make it worthwhile for businesses to hire students on a short-term basis, and such placements can often turn into full-time employment post-graduation.
The three universities are also cooperating on a partnership called the Interior Universities Research Coalition (IURC), where they work together on research, innovation talent, and infrastructure within the province.
For further information on the program, events, and funding options, visit the INWIL website.