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Partners
Calgary Economic Development
Locations
Alberta

Additional Partners

Mount Royal University, University of Calgary, Ambrose University, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, St. Mary’s University, Bow Valley College, Magnet, Orbis Communications

Topics
Future Skills
Pathways to Jobs
SME Adaptability
Work-integrated Learning
Home| Innovation Projects|Project

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. 

Evaluation Report:
Work Integrated Learning Evaluation Report

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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.

person using a laptop and writing in a notebook

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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Research

How AI is shaping the future of work

  • September 2025
  • Signal49 Research (formerly The Conference Board of Canada)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is destined to fundamentally alter work—redefining tasks, reducing demand for specific roles, and giving rise to entirely new roles. Unlike past technology automation waves that targeted routine physical tasks, AI extends into cognitive work—analyzing data, recognizing patterns, and drawing conclusions. This puts even high-skill jobs at risk of disruption, challenging long-held assumptions about their immunity to automation.
1 Related Reports
Two men packaging containers in a restaurant kitchen.
Project

Virtual, Immersive Learning and Career Labs: The New Normal for Food and Beverage Manufacturers

  • October 2024
  • Food Processing Skills Canada
Food Processing Skills Canada (FPSC) launched the iFood360° pilot project to explore how SMEs with limited resources could use VIL technology to foster growth and enhance workforce skills.
2 Related Reports
professionals in a meeting taking notes
State of Skills

Evaluation and Learning in the Skills and Training Ecosystem

  • February 2025
The Future Skills Centre’s approach to evaluation and learning has evolved over time, reflecting the challenges of measuring social impact. It has shifted from a focus on common outcomes to a broader approach that embraces multiple methods for understanding impacts on individuals, institutions and systems.
1 Related Reports
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