Over the past two years, VIU and the Scholarship, Research, and Creative Activity Office has successfully supported over $150,000 in Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada iHUB funding.
The Centre for Experiential Learning, is happy to announce that going forward we will be supporting the CEWIL iHub administration to further enable faculty to increase funding and support to student work-integrated learning (WIL) via this program.
Using our in-house CareerVIU platform and Experiential Learning module, we have created an easy to understand workflow and process. From submitting your expression of interest to the CEL to completing the final reporting requirements, we are here to support you through the entire process.
The CEWIL iHub provides grant-based funding with a minimum direct benefit to each student of $200 CAD and a maximum cost of $2,000 CAD per student/opportunity to enable and promote curricular WIL focusing primarily on the following four types of WIL:
- Applied research/industry projects
- Entrepreneurial WI
- Field placements
- Service-learning WIL
The iHub supports advancement and innovation of WIL and ensures that WIL projects are delivered with suitable quality and learning standards for VIU students. Through this initiative VIU students will have access to new and innovative work-integrated learning opportunities.
This program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative (I-WIL).
If you are interested in moving forward with your application for this funding, review the "How to Apply for Funding" section below to get started on the first steps.
Learn more about CEWIL
Learn more about I-WIL
Apply for Funding
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest to the CEL
- Login to CareerVIU
- In the left-hand navigation pane click on the "Experiential Learning" link
- From the overview page click on "Create New+"
- Complete all of the requested information
- Submit
Step 2: Obtain Approval to Proceed with CEWIL Application process
- Receive written notice from the CEL that your submitted project expression of interest has been approved to proceed
- Navigate to the CareerVIU Experiential Learning module "iHub Resources for Project Leads" page and download the "iHub Applicant Guide"
- Complete all steps in the guide to submit official project application
Step 3: Receive Contract and Begin project
- If your project is approved to proceed by CEWIL you will receive a copy of the official project contract
- Project opportunity submitted in the CareerVIU Experiential Learning module will be made active
- If you have selected to have students apply to participate you will now complete your hiring process. Once complete you will forward the names of the successful candidates to the CEL
- If you have selected to have students from your class or students you have already selected participate you will email your list of students to the CEL
- The CEL will create project records for your student in the CareerVIU Experiential Learning module
- Your project can now begin
For the purposes of iHUB funding, students must meet all the following criteria:
- Registered students in PSE institutions, full time or part time (no age limit)
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
The CEWIL iHUB site outlines a number of eligible expenses; however, the CEL only supports applications whose budgets include the following:
- Direct student compensation (wages, stipend)
- 10% administrative costs which supports a CEL staff member to oversee reporting, financial oversight and student payments
The CEL has signing authority over iHUB contracts. We must receive a completed copy of the proposal at least one week prior to the funder's submission deadline. Do not submit a proposal without written confirmation of approval to submit from a CEL staff member. We recommend connecting with our staff as early in the process as possible.
Fall 2023 Projects
Request for Proposals dates: May 1 - June 7, 2023
- Proposal must be submitted to CEL by May 31, 2023
- Project period: September 1 – December 31, 2023 (Fall 2023)
- Successful applicants notified: Mid-July
Dates subject to change, see CEWIL website to confirm dates.
Project Requirement Overview
- All iHUB experiences must Provide some direct student benefit
All project proposals require a Canadian community or industry partner.
- Partners are required to contribute a minimum 20% of the total cost in cash or in kind (e.g., supervision, mentoring, equipment, hosting events, etc.)
- VIU service units can serve as partners.
- All project proposals should indicate how technology will be utilized to support the WIL experience and priority will be given to projects that leverage innovative technologies or existing technologies in innovative ways.
- To the greatest extent possible, applicants are encouraged to indicate how their project supports the participation of under-represented students.
Projects must address one or more of the following key outcomes:
- Expanding access to WIL opportunities, particularly for under-represented students
- Removing barriers for students to participate in work-integrated learning
- Leveraging technology to enhance programming or extend access, including the use of technology to support virtual or remote WIL experiences
- Innovating work-integrated learning through new partnerships and/or new models for curricular WIL