Headshot of a white woman with glasses and short hair standing in the Taylor Institute.

Erin Kaipainen

MA
Pronouns: She/Her

Positions

Director, Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning

Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, TI Experiential Learning Team

Contact information

Phone number

Office: +1 (403) 220-7179

Background

Educational Background

Bachelor of Arts, Honours English Language & Literature, Brock University, 2002

Master of Arts Social Justice & Equity Studies, Brock University, 2006

Biography

As Director, Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning, Erin supports UCalgary’s bold targets in the Experiential Learning Plan (2020-25). Erin is a connector and convenor, committed to supporting the scaling of experiential and work-integrated learning at UCalgary. In partnership with leaders and experts across campus, Erin supports institutional projects such as the Elevate platform for student success and experiential learning and the development of new WIL programs. Erin works closely with leaders and scholars in other academic and non-academic units to advance opportunities for students to learn experientially.

Erin has spent her professional career supporting student engagement. Her previous work in student affairs focused on service-learning programs, student leadership development and orientation & transition. Her passion for experiential and work-integrated learning stems from her deep involvement in student life at Brock University, and the mentorship she received as a first generation student. Erin is keenly interested in reducing barriers so that all students benefit from learning by doing. She’s also interested in facilitating work to build a strong ecosystem for WIL across the province. In addition to supporting EL and WIL at UCalgary, Erin is the Alberta representative with CEWIL Canada, the national association for Work-Integrated Learning.

Projects

Experiential Learning in the Workplace - UNIV304

This flexible, early-degree work-integrated learning course for undergraduate students was codesigned between the Faculty of Arts, Student Services and the Office of Experiential Learning. UNIV304 can be taken by most undergraduate students as a way to sample WIL and integrate experience into their degree program. The course may be a stepping stone to more intensive forms of WIL such as coop or internship, may allow a graduating student to incorporate WIL before completing their degree, and may be paired with both paid or unpaid experiences.