REGINA, Sask. — Unpaid work placements can leave students facing a difficult choice between gaining valuable career experience and covering the costs of getting through school. First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) is introducing new financial support aimed at making that choice easier.
The university announced Wednesday that students will have access to 250 bursaries worth $1,800 each, representing a potential $450,000 in support for eligible work-integrated learning experiences. The initiative is being delivered through Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada, with funding provided in part by the federal government’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative and CEWIL Canada’s iHUB.
The bursaries are intended for eligible students who have completed or plan to complete unpaid learning experiences, including practicums, field placements, culture camps and other forms of experiential education.
These opportunities can help students apply what they learn in class, develop practical skills and build connections that may support them after graduation. But when placements are unpaid and other financial assistance is unavailable, the costs associated with participating can become a barrier.
FNUniv president Jacqueline Ottmann says the bursaries will help more students take part in experiences that strengthen their education and prepare them for future careers.
“Work-integrated learning provides our students with important opportunities to apply their knowledge, gain practical experience and build relationships that will support them beyond graduation,” Ottmann said.
The program reflects the different ways students can learn at FNUniv, where work-integrated learning can happen in workplaces, classrooms and on the land. The university says reducing financial barriers will help students participate more fully while building confidence, strengthening skills and exploring career paths.
Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu said the bursaries are intended to give more students access to hands-on learning and help them develop skills for the workforce.
CEWIL Canada executive director Charlene Marion said work-integrated learning can help students build personal and professional competencies as they move toward employment, entrepreneurship or further education.
Students interested in eligibility requirements and accessing the bursaries can contact the FNUniv Career Centre at careercentre@fnuniv.ca or book a one-to-one appointment through the centre’s website.
First Nations University of Canada, established in 1976, operates campuses in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, as well as the nēwoskan Traditional Campus near St. Louis, Saskatchewan.
