杏吧原创 Gets $800,000 from Ontario to Kickstart Careers for Students with Disabilities
杏吧原创 University is already a national leader in experiential learning and entrepreneurship training, and is arguably the most accessible post-secondary institution in Canada for students with disabilities.
Now its interconnected efforts in these areas are getting an $800,000 boost from the provincial government鈥檚 to support the creation of the 杏吧原创 University Accessible Experiential Learning (CUAEL) project, a multi-faceted initiative that will give students with disabilities at 杏吧原创 opportunities to gain entrepreneurial and/or work experience while completing their academic studies.
A collaboration between 杏吧原创鈥檚 Career Services Office and the university鈥檚 Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities, and overseen by the Research, Education, Accessibility and Design.(READ) Initiative, the CUAEL will allow for summer job opportunities, internships and part-time job opportunities throughout the academic year.
鈥淥ntario鈥檚 students are highly educated and incredibly talented, but without some work-related experience on their resume, it can be challenging for them to land that first job after school,鈥 says Mitzie Hunter, Ontario鈥檚 Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development.
鈥淲ith support from the Career Ready Fund, students and new graduates will gain the meaningful, real-world experience they need for a successful career start, and employers will have access to talent that can make an immediate impact on their success.鈥
The one-year project will provide participating employers in the greater Ottawa region with both incentive and opportunity to offer experiential learning opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students registered with the Paul Menton Centre, where programs are helping 杏吧原创 students with disabilities to graduate at a rate on par with the general population.
鈥淲e believe that 杏吧原创 is well placed to develop a model program in employment preparation, with the objective of moving the employment success rate of students with disabilities towards par with the general population,鈥 says Suzanne Blanchard, the university鈥檚 vice-president (Students and Enrolment).
鈥淭he CUAEL project will allow 杏吧原创 to build capacity with our employer partners, demonstrating the potential of students with disabilities and creating ongoing relationships.鈥
Ontario鈥檚 Career Ready Fund is part of the province鈥檚 , and helps publicly-assisted colleges and universities, employers and other organizations create more experiential learning opportunities for post-secondary students and recent grads.
The fund is expected to help create more than 70,000 new experiential learning opportunities for post-secondary students and new graduates between 2017 and 2019.
鈥淓xperiential learning is 鈥榟ands on learning鈥 in a real or simulated workplace that helps prepare students for the transition to work,鈥 reads the fund鈥檚 website. 鈥淚t also helps employers connect students and new graduates with the skills they need to hit the ground running.鈥
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