Work-integrated learning (WIL) is still Canada’s most effective bridge from education to employment. But to deliver WIL at scale, we need to move from siloed projects to embedded infrastructure.
Last week, BHER’s WIL Manager Sara Miller shared our work on BHER member York University’s C4 Program at the CEWIL/ECAIT Canada 2025 Conference.
The Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom (C4) brings students from across disciplines together to tackle real-world challenges with social impact in collaboration with external partners, building transferable skills and career confidence along the way.
Co-designed and funded in partnership with BHER, C4 exemplifies what scalable, sustainable WIL looks like.
What made it possible? Strategic investment in the infrastructure behind the experience: dedicated staff, integrated systems, and deep industry relationships. That’s what turns a pilot into repeatable, high-value WIL. Today C4 is now a permanent part of York’s WIL ecosystem and it continues to grow, without ongoing reliance on government subsidies.
Read more of our thought leadership on Strengthening Canada’s Talent Infrastructure: What It Takes to Make WIL Work.
See our report on WIL for liberal arts students and employers who need them, to learn more about success strategies at York and other organizations.