External Partners
Experiential learning at the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ offers students opportunities to merge theoretical knowledge and ideas with hands-on practical experiences. It is “learning by doing”. At the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ, experiential learning encompasses a vast array of opportunities, including but not limited to, internships, co-operative education, community-service learning, project-based learning and research partnerships. Partnering with a student from the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ can bring new perspectives and skills to your organization, while creating invaluable learning experiences for students.
Getting involved
Experiential learning opportunities accommodate different levels of commitment from both students and your organization. We recommend exploring the different types of work-integrated learning to determine what type of involvement is best for your organization. You can also check out current W-I-L programs available to U of A students.
Unsure of where to begin? Contact expwil@ualberta.ca.
Connect with the Campus Community
One way to connect and build relationships with U of A students and alumni is through the Career Centre. They can help you with recruiting, offer information about internships and work experience partnerships, assist you with creating a job/opportunity posting in campusBRIDGE and much more! Explore their webpage to learn more.
Community partners who are interested in working with U of A students across any discipline may want to partner with our Community Service-Learning (CSL) Program, which links academic coursework to community-based experiences. Visit their website to learn about becoming a community partner.
- Is your non-profit board interested in CSL? Consider becoming a mentor organization with the Non-Profit Board Student Internship Program!
External Partners, Employers and Community Partners can also seek out experiential and work-integrated learning opportunities according to discipline or U of A Faculty. Below are a few examples:
- If you are interested in hiring an Arts student for a work term, explore the Arts Work Experience webpage to learn more.
- To recruit a student from the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ School of Business for a co-op work term, you can access their online portal to post an opportunity or keep track of campus recruitment activities. .
- If you are interested in hiring a student for a work term, explore the Science Internship Program.
- Learn more about engaging with the Engineering Co-op Program as a current or prospective employer.
- To recruit students from other disciplines, such as from the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation or Faculty of Education, .
Connect with Student Groups
Connecting with student groups is an excellent way to build relationships with current ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ students. As an external partner (e.g., employers, industry partners and community organizations) you can support and/or engage with programming, establish partnerships and get involved with students.
- To connect with Indigenous Students on campus, check out First Peoples’ House.
- To connect with women in science across campus, check out Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology (WISEST).
- To engage with experiential learning opportunities for Black Youth, .
External Resources and Funding
Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) is the lead organization for work-integrated learning (WIL) in Canada. Their website can help you learn about work-integrated learning and offers useful resources. and access their .
There are various funding programs and options to support external partners in hiring and working with University students. For more information, navigate the link list below:
- International Student Summer Employment Program: A wage-subsidy program that helps employers hire full-time undergraduate international students during the summer term.
- : As a partner with the Student Work Placement Program, employers can apply for wage subsidies to help them hire post-secondary students.
- : A program that facilitates innovation between academic institutions and industry partners, including establishing connections and providing funding for collaborative projects between organizations and post-secondary talent.
- Additional funding and wage subsidy opportunities are listed on the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Career Centre website.
ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ Policies & Processes
External partners who are working with the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ and our students are expected to abide by the University’s policies and procedures. For instance, safety and risk management are important considerations for experiential learning opportunities. Learn more about Risk Management & Insurance processes at the U of A.
Additionally, the ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ has a duty to accommodate all students and support them in experiencing equitable, safe and non-discriminatory experiential learning opportunities. External partners should ensure they abide by the same policies to support our students. Learn more about Access & Accommodations at the U of A.