A pilot project in experiential learning connects Ontario Francophone students with organizations seeking talent

As part of an ongoing mission to support learning and skills-based opportunities for French-speaking Ontarians, eCampusOntario recently collaborated on a successful pilot project using technology to partner Francophone students with industry partners on projects.

The pilot project took advantage of the Riipen platform, a portal that connects organizations looking for short-term project help with students learning or working in that subject area. Riipen recently translated its online platform into French, opening up Ontario’s Francophone talent pipeline to businesses.

Between January and March 2019, approximately 60 students took part in the pilot, successfully completing three different projects within two different organizations.

Here is what some of the participants had to say:

“L’apprentissage expérientiel par projet avec une entreprise réelle m’a permis d’apprendre comment des concepts théoriques peuvent s’appliquer dans la réalité. ”  

“Experiential project-based learning with a real company has allowed me to learn how theoretical concepts can be applied in reality.”

— Co-op student at the University of Hearst

“L’apprentissage par l’expérience casse les frontières qui ont trop longtemps (dé)limité le monde académique, et place l’étudiant au cœur des réalités professionnelles et sociétales. Le Consortium d’Apprentissage expérientiel francophone de l’Ontario (CAPFO) offre aux étudiants francophones ou francophiles des occasions uniques de développer des savoirs et savoir-faire en milieu professionnel ou associatif francophone, et aux employeurs qui les accueillent le regard novateur et créatif de la nouvelle génération. Car c’est bien ça l’apprentissage expérientiel : un enrichissement réciproque pour toutes les parties impliquées. ” 

“Experiential learning breaks down boundaries that have for too long (de)limited the academic world, and places the student at the heart of professional and societal realities. The Consortium d’apprentissage expérientiel francophone de l’Ontario (CAPFO) offers Francophone or Francophile students unique opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in a professional or associative Francophone environment, and to employers who welcome them with the innovative and creative perspective of the new generation. Because that’s what experiential learning is all about: mutual enrichment for all parties involved.”

— Aline Germain-Rutherford, Ph.D. – National 3M Teaching Fellow – Vice-Provost, Academic Affairs – University of Ottawa

“Nous le constatons dans le développement pédagogique au Collège La Cité, l’apprentissage par compétences est une aventure pour l’étudiant, l’apprentissage expérientiel est l’un des mouvements à cet élan. Le rôle de l’étudiant et de l’apprentissage est ainsi en évolution, l’étudiant est au volant de sa propre expérience d’apprentissage, face à des défis pédagogiques authentiques. ”  

“We see it in the pedagogical development at Collège La Cité, competency-based learning is an adventure for the student, experiential learning is one of the movements to this momentum. The role of the student and learning is thus evolving, the student is at the steering wheel of his own learning experience, facing authentic pedagogical challenges.”

— Olivier Chartrand – Manager of Online Training Development – Collège La Cité

“L’apprentissage expérientiel se caractérise par le développement de compétences pratiques qu’un apprenant acquiert au cours de sa formation. Puisqu’un contact étroit est établi avec des gens de l’industrie, il favorise ainsi l’engagement et l’accomplissement de ce dernier. En lui confiant des tâches concrètes, son potentiel est multiplié et ses relations avec des gens d’expérience sont bénéfiques, mais surtout stimulantes. “

“Experiential learning is characterized by the development of practical skills that a learner acquires during training. Since close contact is established with people in the industry, it encourages commitment and accomplishment. By entrusting him with concrete tasks, his potential is multiplied and his relationships with experienced people are beneficial, but above all stimulating.”

— Yannick Thibodeau – Tutor, Content Expert and Program Manager in Computer Science – Centre de formation continue et en ligne – Collège La Cité

This experiential learning project is part of Consortium d’apprentissage expérientiel francophone de l’Ontario (CAPFO), a network of French colleges and bilingual universities seeking to provide Franco-Ontarian students with a variety of experiential learning opportunities, to develop in-demand workplace skills.

Is your organization interested in being part of CAPFO? Contact fr@ecampusontario.ca.