Partner with Students on an Industry Project
Industry Project courses connect students with small- to medium-sized businesses as consultants on existing challenges in order to affect organizational change. These courses are offered across all disciplines, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and are a great way for up-and-coming businesses, burgeoning entrepreneurs, and Western alums within for-profit sectors to leverage a range of perspectives and experiences into operational adaptability and sustainability.
As an Industry Project partner, you will have the unique opportunity to mentor students early on in their academic careers, connecting with groups of students in first- and second-year courses—in addition to those in upper years and graduate school—at pre-determined, regular intervals as they work to complete projects designed in collaboration with you. All projects should have tangible outcomes for both the students and the partners.
For more information on Industry Project courses at Western—including examples of previous courses—please visit our website.
Why Participate?
- Students bring fresh perspectives, new insight, enthusiasm, and creativity to a challenge or need of your choosing
- Projects can vary in length depending on your needs and course availability/suitability; projects can run for the full academic year, or in a single semester (limited availability in summer months)
- Increase capacity through additional human resources
- Knowledge exchange through active participation in the learning process
- Vet and recruit prospective volunteers and employees
Our Service Commitment
Students will typically dedicate 2 hours each week to work on their Industry Project course, and are not expected to be engaged in Industry Project work in December and April, during exams. Experiential Learning at Western is committed to connecting Industry Partners with high-quality students. As such, students are expected to:
- Manage time effectively and employ effective teamwork and problem-solving skills to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work
- Participate in all preparatory Industry Project activities including project planning, goal-setting, professional communication, and understanding relevant theories and practices
- Accept and engage with feedback in their dual role of learner and consultant
- Understand and respect the rules of confidentiality and ethics
- Actively engage in the consultancy
How do I get Started?
If you have a specific project in mind, or if you have identified a general organizational problem or need, we want to hear from you. Contact us to start a conversation and complete an Industry Project Partner Proposal.
Become a part of this exciting project and contribute to students’ learning today as they deliver new ideas in the form of executive summaries, white-paper resources, actionable strategies, and more to meet the ever-evolving needs of your organization.
