Red River College’s Applied Computer Education department has partnered with the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) Talent to match co-op students with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Eligible employers can receive 50% to 70% in wage subsidies towards a student’s work term pay.

The Applied Computer Education department runs three different programs that have a work experience terms: Business Information Technology, Business Technology Management, and our newest program – Information Security. We are constantly amazed at the quality of work our students produce.

Why should I hire a co-op student?

Hiring a co-op student via the Career Ready Program subsidy comes with a low investment and low risk. Students bring fresh ideas and approaches with them and are highly motivated and enthusiastic to gain work experience. After having a co-op student work for your organization, they already know your organization by the time they graduate and are workplace-ready. We see this as an opportunity for start-up companies and entrepreneurs to hire students and grow their business.

Where does the funding come from?

As part of the Government of Canada’s Student Work Integrated Learning Program, ITAC’s Career Ready Program connects SMEs with funding towards co-op student wages. The program provides up to a 50% wage subsidy towards a typical student’s work term pay up to a maximum of $5,000. A 70% wage subsidy is available, to a maximum of $7,000, when qualifying students come from underrepresented groups in STEM: women; indigenous students; recent immigrants; persons with disabilities; and first-year students.

Benefit to Students

When companies are able to hire a driven employee who can apply cutting edge techniques and knowledge learned at RRC, the students in turn will gain valuable hands-on experience in the emerging digital economy.

“The ITAC partnership will open doors for Red River College learners and help employers secure the talent they need to compete in the digital economy.” – Haider Al-Saidi, Chair, Applied Computer Education Red River College.

Contact us for more info

For more information on accessing ITAC’s Career Ready Program subsidies towards hiring a co-op student for your organization, please contact:
Steve Lawrence, slawrence@rrc.ca

About the ACE Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL)
The Applied Computer Education (ACE) Co-operative education integrates related on-the-job experience with classroom theory by integrating a term of paid employment within the terms of academic study. Students are given the opportunity to practice and apply the skills gained in their college as productive full-time employees on their work term.

About ITAC Talent
As Canada’s national information and communications technology (ICT) business association, the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) champions the development of a robust and sustainable digital economy in Canada. A vital connection between business and government, we provide our members with the advocacy, networking and professional development services that help them to thrive nationally and compete globally. The mandate of ITAC Talent, a division of ITAC, is to ensure that Canada’s employers in all sectors of the economy have access to ICT professionals with the skills they need to thrive and compete in today’s rapidly changing technology environment.

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