University students benefit from experiencing careers with a hands-on approach. When COVID-19 entered the picture, these activities had to change to virtual programming. The JSP was able to engage with hosts in various industries to give students a chance to learn and explore through project based learning. This program provided an opportunity for hosts to stay involved with students and the University even during times with no hiring activities, and is an easy entry for hosts with fewer resources to become more involved in WIL. Students were also able to learn and use their skills during a time in the pandemic when opportunities were very challenging to find.
During this time, several fantastic hosts agreed to provide more work-integrated learning experiences during the job shadow program. In addition to virtual meetings with the student to help them understand the occupation and the industry, the hosts also developed projects for the student to complete. These projects were built around questions, problems, or challenges that the host was facing and needed outside perspectives on. The transition to a virtual setting allowed for new and innovative ways to provide one-on-one support to JSP students. Zoom, Skype, and phone calls were used to help students navigate database, have conversations about career exploration within the JSP context, and provide feedback and support on the application process. The Career Centre was able to maintain a good level of host placements relative to pre-COVID times. Student interest was high, and they gained valuable insight into an occupation, organization or industry while helping hosts solve challenges.
Organization: University of Toronto