Subjects: NPT, CHI, EXE, ECO, WOM, POL, DIS, NTA
Government of Canada creating more paid student work placements for post-secondary students
TORONTO, Nov. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Giving post-secondary students the chance to learn in a hands-on work environment is part of the Government's plan to put Canada's greatest strength?its skilled, hard-working people?at the heart of a more innovative new economy.
The Honourable Kristy Duncan, Minister of Science, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, today announced that the Government of Canada will work with MaRS Discovery District (MaRS) to provide students with work placement opportunities to help them develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience.
The Government of Canada is rolling out up to 60,000 student work placements over the next five years. The Government's Student Work-Integrated Learning Program will provide $73 million to create 10,000 paid student work placements over the next four years and facilitate stronger partnerships between employers and partnering polytechnics, universities and colleges. This is in addition to $221 million in funding for Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that provides research internships with a goal of creating 10,000 work placements per year over the next five years.
Minister Duncan made the announcement together with MaRS, one of several industry partners working with the Government of Canada. MaRS is an innovation hub designed to foster, accelerate and scale innovation for impact. MaRS has worked in the education space for over a decade through its Studio Y which supports young people to become top-performing leaders. MaRS, which has taken a leadership role through it Studio Y Fellowship program in providing summer work experience and skills development opportunities, will receive $4.4 million.
It is expected that more than 400 student work placements will be made available primarily to under-represented post-secondary students, such as women in STEM, newcomers, Indigenous students as well as first-year students in STEM.
Quotes
"When Canadian students get on-the-job education, they're getting the experience they need to succeed. Our Innovation and Skills Plan is putting Canada's skilled, talented and creative people at the heart of a more innovative future economy."
? The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"This program will help build stronger partnerships between government, post-secondary institutions and employers and will help young Canadians gain the experience they need to succeed to become innovative leaders in our modern, fast-paced economy."
? The Honourable Kristy Duncan, Minister of Science
"Canadian students are our future pace-setters and will determine the success of our country. Targeting all students enrolled in post-secondary education, the program will place particular attention on engaging and supporting women in STEM, recent immigrants, Indigenous youth and first-year students to foster diverse workplaces thereby increasing Canada's competitive advantage. Thanks to the support of Employment and Social Development Canada, MaRS Studio Y programming and our high-growth ventures, Canada's emerging talent will gain the experience, hands-on skills and mindsets necessary to successfully compete in the innovation economy."
? Lekan Olawoye, Lead Executive, Studio Y
Quick Facts
- Work placements are a continuum of opportunities offered within the workplace including internships, practicums and cooperative placements (co-ops).
- Students who participate in these opportunities are more likely to benefit from higher earnings and more employment opportunities, be employed in fields more closely related to their studies and develop technical and work-ready skills sought after by employers.
- Through this investment, students will also benefit from MaRS Systems Leadership training which will provide them with the skills employers have deemed critical to drive growth and innovation in Canada, such as problem solving and critical thinking.
- To date, four sectors including aviation/aerospace; information and communications technology; biotechnology; and environment have been announced by the Government of Canada as delivery partners in the Student Work-Integrated Learning Program.
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Backgrounder
Student Work-Integrated Learning Program
The Student Work-Integrated Learning Program will provide post-secondary students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and business more quality student work placements and improved partnerships between employers and post-secondary education (PSE) institutions.
Agreements will be put in place with employer delivery partners, including recognized industry associations and organizations that represent the interests of businesses in key sectors in STEM and business.
These partners will be responsible for establishing partnerships with employers and PSE institutions and will provide eligible employers in STEM and business with wage subsidies for quality student work placements, up to 50 percent of the wage cost for the placement (up to a maximum of $5,000 per placement) and up to 70 percent (up to a maximum of $7,000 per placement) for first-year students and under-represented groups, such as women in STEM, Indigenous students, people with disabilities and newcomers.
Employers, including small and medium-sized enterprises and PSE institutions, will work together to help students become job-ready and develop the full complement of skills employers are seeking.
Mitacs
Budget 2017 announced $221 million over five years, starting in 2017-18, to renew and expand funding for Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that has a goal of providing 10,000 research internships for post-secondary students and post-doctoral fellows each year.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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