Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) – Rural Roots

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About the Project

This project was completed in 2024.

The Rural Roots program allowed students to gain much-needed experience to transition into their future careers and for employers to boost their capacity while generating projects that have tangible results. Through meaningful engagement in our program, we aimed to raise awareness of the benefits of working, living in, and supporting rural communities.

What is Work-integrated Learning, Rural Roots

Understanding that the landscape of work-integrated learning (WIL) is changing, students or employers have access to a variety of opportunities that suit their needs. From applied research projects to apprenticeships or micro-placements to hackathons, the possibilities are endless.

The core purpose of WIL was to provide value to students (e.g., employability, and personal development) and employers (e.g., access to new talent, new ideas, and the opportunity to grow and diversify their workforce), specifically for those in rural communities.

The Benefits of Rural Roots

  • Engage the future workforce and showcase the benefits of working in your industry, sector, community or organization
  • Build your professional networks for enhanced career outcomes
  • Share fresh and innovative perspectives and practices, the latest trends in technology and communication, or emerging research and best practices to achieve your goals
  • Enhance your resume or human resource and operational capacity through meaningful projects

Funder

Our Impact

The Rural Roots Work Integrated Learning Program created more than 1,000 placements by August 10, 2023. Of these, more than 40% were students from underrepresented communities. The program engaged with 75 businesses that created WIL opportunities and hired post-secondary students. Based on survey results from employers and students, on average 94-95% of participants found WIL to be valuable and beneficial and 100% of students and employers found the resources and support from RDN valuable throughout their experience. Top resources included:

  • Coaching, support, and advice
  • Calculating ROI
  • WIL 101
  • Types of WIL guide
  • RDNs webinars and workshops

I had the pleasure of working with Rural Roots on another course-based project in Year 1 and saw my ideas being brought to life, so I jumped at an opportunity to take on another project. [This experience] was an opportunity to apply concepts like SWOT analyses and market research to an actual data set. I could see how the data influenced recommendations and supported community development.

Rural Roots Student

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