Federal minister of Small Business and Tourism, Bardish Chagger, yesterday announced funding for the Information Technology Association of Canada’s (ITAC) Career Ready program. The announcement is a part of the government’s Canada’s Student Work Integrated Learning Program that supports matching technology students with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The program will create 1100 new work placement opportunities in the tech sector over the next four years.
The Career Ready program will help post-secondary students who are studying in the areas of Business Technology Management, Computer Science, Computer Systems Technology, Computer Engineering, and other similar programs find job placements with SMEs until 2021. The program works closely with co-op/work-term departments in post secondary institutions to help students make a seamless transition into the work environment while supporting employers who bring on these workplace-ready co-ops. The Career Ready program is currently available Ontario and will be launching in BC, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in 2018.
To encourage businesses to participate in the program Career Ready provides up to 50% (to a maximum of $5000) of a co-op/work term student’s pay. Employers that hire students from underrepresented groups including women in STEM, recent immigrants, persons with disabilities, indigenous students, and first-year students may qualify for additional funding of up to 70% or $7000. Eligible employers must offer prospective students a full-time role for a minimum 12-week-term in a position related to business+technology or in a technical role.
“Programs like Career Ready give students the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and will help them succeed in landing their first job,” said Rocky Ozaki, VP of Community at the BC Tech Association. “These types of government supported initiatives will help Canada become a global tech leader by helping to fill thousands of open positions with experienced workers over the next five years.”
The Career Ready program launches in BC in 2018. Stay tuned to learn more on when and how to sign-up.
Are you a student interested in a career in tech? Check out our Aspire to Tech page to learn more about all of the great opportunities available in BC.
