As many students struggle to find work amid the pandemic, McGill University launches new Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students to develop important digital skills for the future, with the support of the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program and TECHNATION, Canada’s leading national technology association.
McGill will receive over a half-million dollars in federal wage subsidies, by way of the TECHNATION Career Ready Program, to create new opportunities for student employment during the pandemic. With financial support from Faculties and McGill’s need-based Work Study Program, the Federal funds will enable the University to hire 169 undergraduate and graduate students as Remote Learning Assistants to support teaching staff in adapting and delivering academic courses for remote delivery.
The effort was undertaken by McGill’s Career Planning Service (CaPS), Scholarships & Student Aid Office, and Teaching and Learning Services (TLS), in close partnership with Faculties. This Program is just one of several initiatives by which McGill is supporting students and faculty this fall.
“This provides much-needed support for professors to smoothly and fully leverage remote platforms, while creating skill-building employment opportunities for our students. It’s a win-win situation,” says Fabrice Labeau, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning).
“TECHNATION applauds McGill’s efforts to provide work and learning opportunities to students who are facing difficulties in finding meaningful work due to the current health and economic crisis,” adds Brett Hotas, senior program manger, TECHNATION. “We are proud to support this meaningful partnership and look forward to continued opportunities going forward to support not only Canada’s future workforce, but also one of Canada’s most distinguished universities.”
These students will participate in a range of duties, from providing technical support to instructors to recording demonstrations and lab experiments for the virtual classroom.
