The Alberta Government is investing $6 million towards expanding on-the-job learning opportunities. (LNN)

By Drew Stremick (Lethbridge News NOW)

Alberta government expanding investment to create learning opportunities on the job

Oct 7, 2022 | 3:41 PM

The Government of Alberta is expanding on-the-job learning opportunities for post-secondary students.

The provincial government is investing $6 million over the next three years in order to support an additional 1,200 work-integrated learning (WIL) participants.

According to a news release, the WIL industry voucher program is expected to help fund paid work placements in key sectors in Alberta, allowing students to gain work experience, while employers gain access to new talent to help meet workforce needs.

Technology Alberta, the Alberta Construction Association, and BioAlberta are industry associations that are currently participating in the WIL program. With the new investment, the Archaeological Society of Alberta, Alberta Hospitality Association and the Alberta Food Processors Association will also be able to participate in the WIL program.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides says this investment is part of a larger goal to provide post-secondary students with on-the-job training.

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“We have an ambitious goal of offering every student a work-integrated learning opportunity by 2030,” said Nicolaides. “This announcement will help us get there and will help students graduate with job-ready skills.”

Chair of the Alberta Students’ Executive Council Savannah Snow, also president of the RDP Students’ Association, says this is a step in the right direction when it comes to supporting students who are looking to begin their careers.

“This is fantastic news for Alberta students. The integration and support of experiential and work-integrated learning is important for creating employable graduates,” explained Snow. “It lessens the slope of the learning curve and gives students a better idea of which path they would like to pursue after graduation. We commend the government’s commitment to supporting students with paid placements and look forward to further progress around work-integrated learning.”

Industry partners also appear to be enthusiastic about the expansion of the WIL program. Executive director for the Alberta Construction Association Ken Gibson says the support from the Alberta Government has had a positive impact across the province.

“Alberta Construction Association applauds the Government of Alberta’s continued commitment and expansion of work-integrated learning to three new associations to enhance skills development and economic prosperity,” Gibson said. “Alberta’s Construction New Talent program, supported by the government, has assisted 112 post-secondary students and 43 architecture/ engineering/contracting employers to date, with potential to expand the current program.”

The government says $3.45 million will go towards newly approved industry associations in order to create new work placements, and the remaining $2.55 million will go towards expanding existing WIL programs or will be used if new partner association demand sees substantial growth.

The government had previously invested $3.6 million when it created the WIL pilot program in 2021.