The INTO 2022 campaign is made possible thanks to $167,000 in funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, part of a $5.5-million-dollar investment to expand co-op and work-integrated learning opportunities at BC public post-secondary institutions.
“The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted youth employment prospects, including reducing the number of co-op and work integrated learning placements available to students. We are investing in opportunities like INTO 2022 to help students access the hands-on experiences they need to launch their careers,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training. “Helping to support co-op and work-integrated learning opportunities is transformative for students and good news for business and post-secondary institutions.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to the province for this investment to help us support students in gaining valuable work experience and employers looking to hire student talent,” said Anita Budisa-Bonneau, NIC’s coordinator of work-integrated learning.
The INTO 2022 campaign includes three initiatives that will be rolled out throughout the Winter term: 11-11 Sessions, a virtual work-integrated learning (WIL) hiring fair and a living library with career professionals.
The 11-11 Sessions offers employers the chance to present their organization and opportunities to NIC students via zoom, with an 11-minute presentation, followed by 11 minutes of student Q&A and open networking.
On Thursday, March 3, NIC will host a Work-Integrated Learning Hiring Fair – a virtual event from 1-5 pm aimed at connecting talented NIC students with WIL opportunities such as co-ops, internships, apprenticeships, applied research, community service projects and work experiences.
“This is a great opportunity for our employer partners across all sectors to raise the profile of their organization on campus and engage with NIC students directly,” said Budisa-Bonneau. “There are also opportunities for companies to sponsor the virtual hiring fair and further promote their opportunities.”
The Talk to a Pro Living Library event from March 7-11, invites seasoned professionals to help mentor the future workforce by acting as a ‘living book’ and making themselves available for 30-minute sessions where they can connect with students virtually to talk about their own unique career path.
“The Talk to a Pro Living Library offers students the opportunity to speak one-on-one with an industry professional to help them determine their own future career path,” said Budisa-Bonneau. “It’s also a chance for career professionals to share their experiences starting out and to provide some insight on what they do at work as well as what is changing in their field.”
In all, the INTO 2022 events are focused on creating new and alternative ways for employers and students to connect and to help employers throughout our region to showcase their opportunities and organization if they are interested in hiring NIC students now or sometime in the near future.
“Our goal is to help make it easier for both employers and students to connect with one another in 2022 and create win-win situations where both parties can benefit through meaningful work-integrated learning experiences,” said Budisa-Bonneau.
Anyone interested in being a part of the events, or connecting with NIC students, can contact NIC’s work-integrated learning team at wil@nic.bc.ca.
