IGNITE receives $500,000 toward work-integrated learning opportunities

“This CEWIL Bursary is going to help a good number of students this coming semester.”
Jessica Carrera.

Picture this: you’ve mastered the theory of your program and feel ready to start networking and land an internship. You find a position that excites you, apply, go through the interview process and finally receive an offer! Time to celebrate, eh? Well, then you realize it’s an unpaid work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunity.

Unfortunately, many interns still don’t get compensated for their work. We know that can be frustrating, especially with the high prices we’re facing today.

Recognizing this as a barrier for equity-deserving students and the Humber College and the University of Guelph-Humber communities, IGNITE is part of a robust WIL group that explores funding opportunities to cover unpaid opportunities. And, we couldn’t be happier to announce some fantastic news!

IGNITE’s Glow Bursary just got the green light. We’ll be receiving $500,000 to fund unpaid WIL bursaries for students in the fall 2024 semester! This is a partnership between IGNITE and Humber Advising & Career Services – our joint efforts contribute to the overall success of the program.

But before we dive into the latest updates on this bursary, let’s look at how it all began.

How everything started

Student browsing brooks at the library. — *Picture by IGNITE*.

You know our catchphrase: “IGNITE is committed to making your student life the best it can be.”

Back in 2020, Humber’s Advising and Career Services department kickstarted WIL support with the Magnet Student Work Placement Program, which provides eligible employers with funds to hire post-secondary students for paid work experiences.

In 2022, IGNITE joined the work-integrated learning space and introduced the GLOW (Giving Learners and Opportunity to Work) Scholarship. Fast forward to 2023, and we applied to Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada’s (CEWIL Canada) new bursary stream.

As we received and disbursed funding for the first time that same year, IGNITE repurposed the Glow Scholarship into a bursary program dedicated specifically to supporting our international students, since CEWIL funds are restricted to domestic learners. This move reinforced our commitment to tackling and addressing unpaid WIL for all students.

Now that you had a quick history lecture, let me share with you the numbers.

Math time: What are the new funding numbers?

One person using a laptop and the other writing in a notebook. — *Picture by IGNITE*.

I’m not an accounting major, but let me break down these numbers for you.

Last year, we disbursed a total of $360,000 – $350,000 from CEWIL and $10,000 from IGNITE. This helped 180 students, each receiving a $2000 bursary.

With this year’s bursary project approval, our aim is to do something even bigger. Our total contribution to WIL will be $560,000, with $500,000 from CEWIL and $60,000 from IGNITE. Do you remember those high school math problems about direct proportions? In plain English, the number of students benefitting from this will also increase, reaching a total of 280 in 2024!

Another key point: our project is committed to ensuring that at least 50 per cent of all recipients identify as members of underrepresented groups. Last year, over 85 per cent of recipients met this goal, and we aim to provide similar levels of support for underrepresented groups this year.

Why is this important?

A woman looking at scholarship names at the Humber College North campus. — *Picture by IGNITE.*

IGNITE believes every student should be compensated for their work. We understand that unpaid internships are a significant barrier for the Humber and UofGH communities. That’s why our commitment to WIL remains strong and unwavering.

Missing out on great employment opportunities because of a lack of remuneration is frustrating, and we hope to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with this issue. IGNITE is thrilled to support more students financially every year, allowing them to learn and develop skills through real-world experiences.

Our 2023-24 student advocate, Jessica Carrera, highlights the importance of this bursary. From her first day in the hotel and restaurant operations management program, Carrera was told the industry was short-staffed and needed new professionals. However, when it came to choosing a placement, she found that none of the postings offered any pay. Carrera even recalls her placement manager suggesting she quit her student advocate role to work for free.

“Imagine the thousands of other students who actually had to quit their jobs. This CEWIL Bursary is going to help a good number of students this coming semester, but we know there’s more work to be done,” Carrera said. “We have a commitment to keep working hard toward a long-term solution for paid work opportunities for all students.”

Apply today

Group of students using headphones. — *Picture by IGNITE*.

If you’re taking an unpaid internship during the summer 2024 or fall 2024 semesters, apply for the IGNITE GLOW Bursary. On our website, you’ll find all the eligibility requirements.

Emiliano Laing, a 2022-23 recipient of the GLOW, described it as invaluable support.

“It allowed me to stay committed to my future without having to worry as much about paying the bills,” Laing said.

If you have any questions, reach out to us on our socials @shareignite.

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.

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