UCalgary sets students up for success in the workplace thanks to $9 million in dedicated federal funding for new co-op and internship placements

Calgary, AB – For over The University of Calgary has moved quickly to secure up to $9 million in federal funding through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) for registered Canadian businesses and organizations to hire UCalgary students in paid work placements related to their field of study. Funding for student co-op positions is welcome at a time when both students and employers find themselves navigating challenging economic conditions. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has made temporary changes to SWPP to make funding more accessible, the application process more flexible and to increase the number of student hires. The program is administered through Employment and Social Development Canada and funding will be delivered through UCalgary’s partner organization, Magnet. 

Co-operative education and internship placements are paid experiences that provide students with valuable opportunities for skill development and career exploration. Considered to be a form of experiential learning — or learning by doing – these work-integrated learning opportunities give students a chance to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world projects. 

“The University of Calgary is taking action to ensure that, by 2025, 100% of our undergraduate students participate in at least two experiential learning opportunities before they graduate,” says Dr. Dru Marshall, PhD, provost and vice-president (academic). “During these opportunities, UCalgary students benefit from discovering their sense of purpose, improving their civic consciousness and employability, and developing their leadership skills.” 

As Canada’s most entrepreneurial university, UCalgary students are provided with world-class, future-focused programming to develop entrepreneurial-thinking skills — defined as creative problem-solving, turning circumstance to advantage and seeing possibilities where others see problems. “Our students will play a pivotal role in supporting Alberta employers as they overcome the significant economic headwinds brought on by the pandemic and an economic recession,” added Marshall.   

Employers who hire co-op and internship students gain a flexible, cost-effective way to develop new talent. Student talent can be especially effective when used to quickly move forward projects that require intensive, short-term resourcing to get started. 

Registered businesses and organizations may qualify for wage subsidies of 75% of the provincial minimum wage, up to a maximum of $7,500 in funding per co-op student. They must be financially capable of hiring a student for a part- or full-time work term and provide them with a meaningful work experience.  

Recent changes to the SWPP program to stimulate hiring through the COVID-19 recovery include: 

• Co-op students can work from home.  
• Previously existing restrictions around new hires and the number of new positions have been removed. 
• The wage subsidy has increased to 75% of the provincial minimum wage up to a maximum of $7,500.   

UCalgary’s co-op and internship programs and the Office of Experiential Learning in the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning will work with employers interested in applying for funding. Access SWPP this winter to fund existing co-op or internship placements or create positions between Jan. – Apr. 30, 2021.    

About the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning  

The Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning is dedicated to better understanding and improving student learning at the University of Calgary. Its mission to strengthen teaching and learning communities, cultures and practices to create extraordinary learning experiences. The Office of Experiential Learning within the Taylor Institute advances high-impact, future-focused learning opportunities for UCalgary students.  

About Magnet 
Magnet is a digital social innovation platform, founded at Ryerson University. Through the Magnet Network, its mission is to accelerate inclusive economic growth for all in Canada by advancing careers, businesses and communities. The Magnet Student Work Placement Program brings together employers, students, and post-secondary school stakeholders to create quality work-integrated learning opportunities. 

 

Media Contact

Dean Parthenis
Director, Manager Media and Issues Management
403.629.5806
dparthen@ucalgary.ca

 
About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is a global intellectual hub located in Canada’s most enterprising city. In our spirited, high-quality learning environment, students thrive in programs made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. Our strategy drives us to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, engaging the communities we both serve and lead. This strategy is called Eyes High, inspired by the university's Gaelic motto, which translates as 'I will lift up my eyes.' For more information, visit ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh. 

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