Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre Partners with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking to bring Experience Ventures to students across Atlantic Canada. Experience Ventures pairs students with startups and businesses nationwide - giving 2100 students real-world placement opportunities and giving businesses access to emerging talent.
The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary's University has recently signed an agreement to be the Regional Lead Atlantic Canada partner in Experience Ventures, a national program led by The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and funded in part by the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative. This partnership presents 152 new experiential learning opportunities for students in
Atlantic Canada to work directly with businesses, enhancing their skill sets and gaining valuable entrepreneurial experience. - but also - There are five diverse placement opportunities, including Hackathons, Challenges, Project Experiences, Student-in-Residence, and Interdisciplinary Team Projects. In each placement, students work on real-world challenges, gaining hands-on experience while earning honorariums. Business partners get access to fresh thinking and the next generation of talent.
"Entrepreneurial thinking is essential to enriching lives and advancing prosperity in Canada," says Anica Vasic, Senior Director of Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking. "Our goal is to ignite an entrepreneurial mindset in students across Canada to develop the next generation of talent that will build our future. With entrepreneurial thinking as our north star, we've helped students across the nation step outside the classroom and gain the future-ready skills they need to thrive in the new world of work. The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is a recognized Canadian leader in helping nurture this entrepreneurial mindset, which is why we're so excited to welcome Atlantic Canada into the Experience Ventures network."
"Young people are ready to dive in, test their ideas and turn their ideas into action. That's why we're so proud to support Experience Ventures through the Innovative Work Integrated Learning Initiative. This is about giving students real opportunities to learn and grow, connecting them with startups and businesses from coast to coast," says The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. "They'll sharpen their problem-solving skills, gain hands-on experience and carry it forward to their future careers whether that means launching their own business or stepping into the career they've dreamed of."
How it works:
- Projects run from October 2024 to February 2025.
- Students and businesses apply through Experience Ventures at the Arthur L. Irving. Entrepreneurship Centre.
- Companies provide in-kind support.
- Both students and companies go through an onboarding process and participate in one of five types of entrepreneurial thinking placements.
"Entrepreneurship and innovation are vehicles that empower students to change the world and change themselves. Experience Ventures gives students that all-important hands-on' entrepreneurial experience, working with real businesses on real challenges and opportunities," says Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Saint Mary's University. "We are excited to work in partnership with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking to bring these opportunities to Atlantic Canada.
For deadlines and details on all 152 placement opportunities, please visit our website.
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Students, please contact: paige.bigelow@smu.ca
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Businesses, please contact: denise.benison@smu.ca
About The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking is a dynamic community centre dedicated to fostering student entrepreneurship, empowering faculty innovation, and building a network of entrepreneurial minds. Our mission is to enhance the University of Calgary's entrepreneurial capacity, enabling our community to drive positive global change. Positioned as a catalyst, the Hunter Hub supports University of Calgary's vision to become "Canada's most entrepreneurial university."
About the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Saint Mary's University
The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary's University is a creative and collaborative space open to all students in Atlantic Canada. With a focus on growth, innovation and cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, the Centre supports students and businesses - helping both grow and prosper. In the last 5-years, more than 4,000 students and 3,000 businesses have engaged with the Centre.
