Going FORWARD

One key pillar of the College’s current strategic plan is ‘Connections and Relationships for Educational Success’. The aspiration of this pillar is for students to be able to build a future based on connections and relationships that extend beyond the College. The stories and feedback described above reinforces the value and importance of community relationships for participating students, which will remain a top priority for the program going forward

It will be critical that program administrators at the College have the time and capacity to build relationships of trust with each placement organization, to help foster student success. In addition, the ongoing and dedicated support of one or more Career Advisors is critical. The Career Advisor can communicate and understand the requirements of partner organizations, support students through the selection process, and provide ongoing feedback, advice, and support over the term of the placement to ensure expectations are met Since the inception of the program, there have been problematic placements which required active communication to resolve differing expectations, and the guidance from the Career Advisor was instrumental to navigate these situations.

Feedback from partner organizations and students also revealed the following opportunities to further enhance the success of the program in the future:

Regular scheduled check-ins for both the organization and student are critical and should continue

Some placements require specific digital literacy skills Program offerings of the College’s LinkedIn Learning program and the Essential Technology and Workplace Skills program could be tailored to the requirements of each placement, and the program coordinator could develop custom learning pathways aligned with the requirements of each placement

Prospective students could meet with program alumni through the orientation process, to hear specific examples and stories of how to set themselves up for success

It could be of value to connect program participants with one another part way through the placement to share their experiences, and reveal opportunities for essential tech or professional skills training