Up to 150 students of KPU’s Melville School of Business will benefit from an innovative new, paid part-time internship program thanks to a generous RBC Foundation donation.
The $300,000 donation over the next three years from RBC Foundation’s Future Launch initiative will support the new Melville Business Strategy Internship Program at KPU. The funding will encourage a wide selection of employers to participate in this program, including small local businesses, so students on the cusp of graduation have a rich opportunity to gain real-world experience with industry partners.
“RBC Foundation’s gift reduces the cost of hiring an intern for industry partners to help them easily engage with our talented business students, especially now in the tough economic context of COVID-19,” says Stephanie Howes, dean of the Melville School of Business. “I am sincerely grateful to RBC for their partnership, generosity and support of our business community and students.”
The Melville Business Strategy Internship Program is innovative in being part-time, allowing students to gain paid hands-on experience in their area of study without delaying completion of their program. This better aligns the internship opportunity with the way most students now approach their education, adds Howes.
“When experience is so important to getting a job – but so hard to gain especially when the pandemic has upended many of the traditional summer jobs – young people are left feeling uncertain about their futures in the new world of work,” said Hanif Charania, regional vice president, South Fraser, RBC. “We hope that through our partnership with KPU, RBC Future Launch can help bridge the gap between education and employment.”
Randall Heidt, chief executive officer of the KPU Foundation and KPU vice president of external affairs, thanked RBC Foundation for its commitment to enable aspiring business students gain access to the skills, job experience and career networks needed for the future world of work.
“RBC Foundation’s initiative is a perfect match for KPU’s hands-on approach to education and we look forward to graduating business students who are not only prepared for their careers, but already in them,” adds Heidt.
Beginning in May 2022, the Melville Business Strategy Internship program will facilitate continued studying in concert with gaining work experience. The program will complement KPU’s work-integrated learning initiatives that provide students with more choice in how they balance study, work and life.
Learn more about the Melville Business Strategy Internship program, including how to apply to be an employer or intern. Applications are open until Feb. 11 for employers and Feb. 14 for students.