Seven new employers will help accelerate new experiential learning opportunities for Franco-Ontarian learners
eCampusOntario has opened a new door for Franco-Ontarian learners to gain valuable work experience. With the relaunch of its Consortium d’apprentissage experientiel francophone de l’Ontario (CAPFO) programming over this past summer, eCampusOntario has welcomed seven new employers to the CAPFO marketplace. These new employers will expand work placement opportunities for Francophone students in the province.
Representing a consortium of Ontario’s French-language and bilingual postsecondary institutions, CAPFO offers work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities by connecting students with placements in francophone industry, research, and community organizations.
“CAPFO opens the horizon for students and educators to meaningfully engage with employers and coordinate in-person, hybrid, and digital WIL opportunities,” said Andrea Krasznai, Digital Learning Associate for French Experiential Learning Initiatives at eCampusOntario. “Students have the opportunity to build their skill set and gain experience in real projects prior to graduation so they can enter the workforce with confidence, while educators can enrich the classroom experience, build industry relationships, and receive feedback in real-time to ensure the curriculum is relevant to their respective present-day industry landscape.”
WIL has come to the forefront as one of the solutions to a key issue in the current labour market landscape: the shortage of skilled workforce. Employers engaged in the CAPFO marketplace have access to the next generation of talent and help upskill graduates entering the workforce.
In order to offer Franco-Ontarian learners immediate opportunities, the project uses an intuitive online matchmaking platform called Riipen which connects educational institutions with francophone industry partners.
“Businesses and non-profits can access project-based paid placements at no cost,” Dana Stephenson, Co-founder and CEO of Riipen told the National Post. “Remote internships help reduce the capacity strain, boost productivity, and increase access to innovative thinking, while still giving students from anywhere in the country flexible opportunities to grow their experience, gain mentorship, and develop the entrepreneurial mindset sought out by recruiters from all fields.”
Employers who have joined the CAPFO marketplace include Afroa Beauty, PAAL Partageons le monde, Centre Solaris, Re-Generation, Solutions Ecotime Inc, Rivage du Val St-François, and BDH Collective. Students who log in to Riipen can discover these opportunities to augment their coursework and accelerate their career trajectories.
CAPFO continues to recruit interested francophone educators and employers to expand the success of the project.
To learn how your organization can get involved in CAPFO, please contact Andrea Krasznai, Digital Learning Associate for French Experiential Learning Initiatives at fr@ecampusontario.ca.