Calgary Regional WIL Secretariate and Portal 

Work-integrated learning (WIL) gives people the chance to apply the skills they have learned in the classroom while gaining on-the-job experience and pathways to meaningful careers in  emerging, high-demand sectors. 

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Through FSC’s $2.9 million investment, Calgary Economic Development (CED) is developing a one-stop, online portal for WIL opportunities in the region. These paid work placements focus on gaining hands-on experience from industry experts over the course of a student’s academic studies. Placements can be co-ops, internships, applied research projects or field placements.

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This innovative model and central platform will support economic growth and inclusion through WIL for post-secondary students, and will benefit jobseekers, employers and the Alberta economy.This initiative will also make WIL more accessible to non-traditional participants such as mature learners, youth, and organizations not typically connected to post-secondary institutions. 

CED and multiple local stakeholders have come together to form a consortium with technology partners Magnet and Orbis Communications, in order to demonstrate the viability of deploying a regional WIL model and to identify and address issues around broader applicability for communities and regions across Canada. 

This work is immediately contributing to Calgary’s economic transformation, while also providing insights for a more systematic way for employers to collaborate with post-secondary institutions. 

Featured Projects

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Project

Bridging the Gap: Developing a Flexible Learning Platform for Reskilling and Upskilling

The project aimed to partner with other colleges and employers to identify in-demand jobs and their associated competencies requirements, and to develop and deliver micro-credentials that meet the specific needs of individual job seekers.
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Research

Navigating the transition: Identifying pathways to careers in the insurance industry

Canada’s insurance industry is poised for significant growth in the coming years,even with the abundance of job vacancies already existing.
Research

Responsive Career Pathways Project (RCP) Midcareer Transitions

Canada’s rapidly changing labour market is challenging both workers and employers to adapt. Automation, demographic shifts and evolving skill demands mean that many mid-career Canadians will need to retrain or transition into new roles, while small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) struggle to recruit and retain skilled staff.
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