Work-Integrated Learning Information for Employers

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is a form of curricular experiential education that formally integrates a student’s academic studies with quality experiences within a workplace or practice setting. WIL experiences include an engaged partnership of at least: an academic institution, a host organization, and a student.

WIL helps build rewarding partnerships between RRC Polytech and industry and community partners, who benefit from enthusiastic, skilled workers who are ready to contribute, while students gain practical work experience.

Our Coordinators are ready to assist your organization in hosting student work experiences as an employer partner.

Benefits of Work-Integrated Learning

Access diversely-talented, highly motivated students who are well trained in their discipline and ready to enter the workforce.
Are an ideal resource to fill temporary human resource needs, such as staff leaves and short-term or seasonal projects.
Gives you regular input into industry-responsive College curricula.
Develops internal leadership through supervision, mentorship, and coaching to enthusiastic learners.
Helps train your workforce and can be used to support permanent positions.

Types of Work-Integrated Learning

WIL can occur at the course or program level and includes the development of student learning objectives and outcomes related to employability, agency, knowledge and skill mobility and life-long learning. There are several different types of WIL that RRC Polytech offers:

Co-operative Education

Full-time, paid work term(s) offering students a structured approach that integrates their studies with work experience in a related field.
- Co-op Alternating: Consists of alternating academic terms and paid work term(s).
- Co-op Internship: Consists of a paid work term after all academic coursework has been completed.
Paid experience.
Full-time, full term. The number of required work terms varies by program.

Field Placement

Intensive part-time/short-term placements and work-related experiences that prepare students for professional or occupational fields but are not required for a professional license.
Paid and unpaid experiences.
Varies in length and required hours.

Mandatory Professional Practice

Work arrangements required for a professional license or designation (clinical, practicum, preceptorship).
Paid and unpaid experiences.
Varies in length and required hours.

Community and Industry Research Projects (CIRPs)

Projects integrating academic studies with real-world challenges through collaboration between an academic course and a community/industry partner.
Paid and unpaid experiences.
Varies in length and required hours, may be used as a term long project, or a smaller assignment that covers one unit or a few topics in a course.

Service Learning

A range of activities intended to provide equal benefit to the service provider (the student) and the recipient (the community) while maintaining a focus on learning.
Unpaid experience.
Varies in length, depending on the project or program, can range from short-term to a full-term commitment.

Steps to Partner with RRC Polytech

Let us know about the Work-Integrated Learning opportunity
Email WIL@rrc.ca to discuss your WIL opportunity or create an account and post the WIL opportunity on Career Bridge.
We’ll work with you to ensure it’s a good fit
A WIL Coordinator from program area will work with your business or organization to ensure the opportunity meets the needs of the program.
Students can apply or be placed with your organization
Once your posting is approved for the WIL term, WIL students can either apply for your opportunity or be placed with your organization.
We’ll provide confirmation of the partnership
Receive confirmation of the WIL partnership.

Programs and Timelines

WIL Coordinators are available to discuss WIL participation and partnerships. RRC Polytech runs three academic terms per year.

Student in the Workplace	Post Your Positions
May – August (Spring term)	January – April
September – December (Fall term)	May – August
January – April (Winter term)	September – December

Note: For more information about our Work-Integrated Learning programs, get in touch with us today.

Business and Management

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Business Accountancy	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Business Accountancy and Management	Field Placement	Paid or Unpaid	3 weeks	✓	✓	✓
Business Management	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓		✓
Hospitality and Tourism Management	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
International Business	Field Placement	Paid or Unpaid	6 weeks		✓

Community Services

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Child and Youth Care	Field Placement	Unpaid	4 months			✓
Disability and Community Support	Field Placement	Paid or Unpaid	6 months, 2 days per week		✓	✓
Early Childhood Education	Practicum	Paid or Unpaid	15 weeks / 8 weeks	✓
Social Innovation and Community Development	Service Learning	Unpaid	5-6 weeks		✓	✓

Culinary

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Culinary Arts	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓	✓	✓
Professional Baking and Pastry	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓

Engineering and Construction Technologies

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.
Architectural Technology	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Civil Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓ May – Oct.
Construction Management	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓ May – Oct.
Electrical Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Electronic Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Environmental Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓
Geomatics Technology	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓
Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Mechanical Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	16 weeks	✓
Municipal Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓
Structural Engineering Technology	Co-op	Paid	24 weeks	✓

Health Sciences

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Dental Assisting	Field Placement	Unpaid	3 weeks	✓
Science Laboratory Technology	Co-op	Paid	15 weeks	✓

Information Technology

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Application Development and Delivery	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	15 weeks	✓	✓	✓
Data Science and Machine Learning	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	15 weeks			✓
Full Stack Web Development	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	16 weeks	✓	✓	✓
Game Development	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	12 weeks	✓
Information Security	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	15 weeks			✓
IT Operations	Co-op or Project	Paid or Unpaid	15 weeks	✓	✓	✓

Transportation Technology

Program	Type	$	Duration	May – Aug.	Sept. – Dec.	Jan. – Apr.
Automotive Technician	Field Placement	Unpaid	3 weeks	✓		✓
Automotive Technology	Field Placement	Unpaid	4 weeks		✓	✓
Collision Repair and Refinishing	Field Placement	Unpaid	3 weeks	✓		✓
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic	Field Placement	Unpaid	3 weeks	✓		✓
Marine and Powersports Technician	Field Placement	Unpaid	3 weeks	✓		✓
Truck Transport Technology	Field Placement	Unpaid	4 weeks		✓	✓

Key Components of a Work-Integrated Learning Partnership

WIL placements are developed and approved as suitable learning experiences by the College and give students an opportunity to develop their skills related to their academic discipline. With the support of the WIL Coordinator, industry and community partners provide supervision and mentorship, and evaluate the student at the end of the work term.

Placement Confirmation

Industry and community partners will receive confirmation of placement email. This message will include:

Confirmation of student and employer information relevant to the WIL placement
Program specific WIL placement requirements including term dates and minimum hours worked, as well as employer evaluation information.
Overview of WIL partner responsibilities and approximate timelines of WIL Coordinator touch points throughout the term.
Tax incentive information & SWPP information if applicable. This email should act as the institutional letter for application for Tax incentives and SWPP programs.
A link to the WIL Student Expectations, Responsibilities and Supports webpage.

Commitments as an Industry and Community Partner

Provide the student with role expectations
Schedule hours to suit organizational needs and academic requirements
Support student’s professional and personal growth through supervision, mentorship, and feedback to students
Participate in employer site visits
Complete evaluation of student performance for final assessment
Provide feedback to the College to further enhance the quality of WIL offerings
Comply with RRC Polytech’s Respectful Workplace and Learning Environment policy

Recruiting Ethics

RRC Polytech follows CEWIL Recruiting Ethics.

WIL Student Expectations and Responsibilities

The WIL Coordinator will monitor student progress throughout the WIL placement. Students are required to comply with RRC Polytech’s standards and expectations during their placement.

For more information, see WIL Student Expectations and Responsibilities.