Community partners needed for new experiential learning program

The Faculty of Arts and Science Experiential Learning team has just launched a new program, Experience Ventures 2021, and are looking to partner with community organizations that have identified challenges they would like a student to investigate and recommend a solution for. These projects will look to engage students from underrepresented groups (women in STEM, visible minorities, Indigenous students, newcomers to Canada, etc.) and must be completed by December 2021.

This Employment and Social Development Canada-funded opportunity brings together the Queen’s Experiential Learning team, a community organization or business, and a team of students, who want to gain interdisciplinary project experience and develop transferable, work-ready skillsets.

Open to local organizations and businesses in the Kingston area, we are looking for approximately five to seven organizational projects that up to 25 FAS students could take part in. The organization will be responsible for identifying and providing the challenge they are currently facing and the Experiential Learning team will recruit students that are eager to provide recommendations. Students can work on a project individually, or as part of a team, and will be mentored by the faculty’s Experiential Learning team.

“Our students are ready to work for you or to help you solve problems and complete projects with support from our Faculty’s Experiential Learning team and our alumni network,” says Barbara Crow, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science. “This is also an opportunity for us to give back to the Kingston area, by engaging, supporting and building community with students and thereby fostering their commitment to Kingston.”

Students can expect to work up to 40 hours when completing an Experience Venture (overall timeframes will vary per project scope) and will receive a stipend for their work. Employers will receive administrative support and guidance from the Experiential Learning team and be required to contribute resources of $400 per student (usually salary).

“These Experience Ventures help students to better understand what to expect when entering the workforce, increase their understanding of workplace cultures, and foster an ethos of self-directed learning,” says Christina Dinsmore, Associate Director, Experiential Learning. “More specifically, the Experience Ventures program will provide students with the opportunity to apply skills acquired in a wide range of study and courses to the workplace, and then bring that learning back to the classroom.”

Interested?

Send an expression of interest to asc.el@queensu.ca by July 30, 2021. Applications received after that date may not be considered.