The 91˿Ƶ STEM Industry Project, powered by , is a 2 to 3-week virtual work experience designed to prepare you for the workplace through real business challenges from the STEM sector.
During the project, you will work as a virtual Student Consultant team. You will receive a project brief from your client and will need to present your research and insights at the end of the program. You’ll receive client and professional mentor feedback along the way, and will be supported with content via Practera’s work based learning platform. Completion of the project will be included on your Co-Curricular Record.
You will develop skills including: innovation, service oriented, problem solving, leadership, collaboration and cultural consciousness.
"This experience as a consultant has equipped me with a practical understanding of real-world business challenges and the ability to deliver solutions efficiently. I intend to leverage this experience to enhance my problem-solving skills and contribute valuable insights to future projects. ” - 2023 participant
Student Consultant Responsibilities:
As a student consultant, you will need to:
- Work with your team, mentor and client online, and attend meetings
- Commit 50 hours in total for the 3 week experience OR 25 hours in total for the 2 week experience
- Attend Student Orientation
- Attend Project Briefing with your Client and Mentor
- Complete all project deliverables
Eligibility:
Master’s (preference to non-thesis) students in Engineering (including Bioresource Engineering) or Computer Science.
- Master's thesis students are required to submit a letter of support from their supervisor to participate in the project.
- Students must be:
- registered full-time in the Winter and Fall semesters
- be in good academic standing
- Students may only participate once in the project.
How to apply?
The next project dates are:
- Spring 2025
Testimonials from the 2023 Student Consultants:
"Great opportunity to work on a real time project, enhance skill set, network, and gain experience!"
“I find that there is a huge difference between industry and academia. I am used to the formal and how to do things in a research and lecture way. Now I can tell and implement industrial methods on actual projects from the company.”
"I did develop Networking and Relationship Building, Adaptability and Problem Solving and Communication Skills."
Testimonials from the 2024 Student Consultants:
"Provided exposure to different challenges which helped me be more prepared for job interview questions and more experience on my CV.”
“It was helpful to work with a real startup, get a sense of their goals, meet their team members and review their products and give recommendations. It gives us a helpful introduction to the industry.”
"It was a wonderful experience to learn the ethics of working in a professional setting. Knowing the gears that runs a successful team and therefore, the project will help in future projects!”