Did you know that student projects can help your organization thrive? Many employers are familiar with hiring an intern or co-op student, but there are also hundreds of students in Calgary who would be keen to work on a short-term project for your organization as part of a classroom project. And what you can get in return may surprise you.
Here are 7 reasons why you should consider getting students to work on a project for your organization:
- It’s free. If you have a business challenge you’re willing to have students tackle, it’s free for your organization. Unlike more traditional student work experience options like internships, there is usually no expectation to pay a group of students to work on a project, since it will be considered part of their academic coursework. Some schools and programs do seek a small stipend or honorarium for student projects, but generally it is free.
- You can get amazing results. Students who will be working on your project are currently being trained in a specialized skill set and are eager to apply those learnings to real-world situations. Here are a few examples of unique projects that students can complete (or have already completed) for local businesses:
- Custom app development (SAIT Software Development Diploma Students)
- Business plan creation (MRU Business Students)
- Local biodiversity review (St. Mary’s University Biology Students)
- Product design options (AU Arts Information Design Students)
- Marketing strategies (Ambrose University Business Students)
- Cybersecurity review (Bow Valley College Cyber Security Students)
- Sustainability research (UCalgary Architecture, Planning & Landscape Students)
- It’s easy. How would you feel about investing 10 hours to get 400 hours of work in return? That’s what happens when you offer a project to students. The expectation on employers varies by school, but most schools will only need you to commit time to help outline the project, provide advice as needed, and then evaluate the work at the end of the semester.
- You get outside perspectives. It can be tough to think outside the box when you have a small team and a million things to tackle on your own. Offering a project to students ensures that you’ll get fresh ideas, innovative perspectives, and some specialized skillsets. If you’re looking for new and unique ideas, student projects will ensure you find them.
Here’s what one employer had to say about working with students on a project:
“It’s nice to get the student perspective…and I liked that there was a professor overseeing (their work). What I’m learning is that I need to make a bit of a pivot for my business, and the research the students did helped inform that decision.” (Felicia Smart – Emsol Consulting)
- It’s timely. Student projects are meant to be completed within a specific semester. By offering a project to a group of students, you can be confident that they will get it done by their deadline!
- You can get background research. No time to look into the latest research or dive into your market analysis? No problem! Students can conduct background work and provide you with a summary of what they found. They’ll even provide you with their sources if you want to dig deeper!
- Students are under institutional mentorship. Students who are working on a classroom project are under the guidance of an instructor or professor and have access to academic guidance, additional resources, and support (other than you). In the rare case where there are challenges with the students completing the project, you also know that their instructors will address concerns and keep them accountable.
Bonus Reason: You can scope out new talent. If you’re considering bringing on another team member or hiring a summer student, class projects are a great way to identify and test new talent!
Ready to get started?
Are you ready to connect with a group of eager students who are going to pour hours of work into a project for your organization?
Connect with our team for a one-on-one call to discuss your ideas and get advice on which school has the student projects that can help your organization thrive!
Contact us today to get started! Share your contact info on our form at: https://info.talentedyyc.com/projects.