Planet Hatch, STU Launch Work Skills Program For International, Indigenous Students
FREDERICTON — Planet Hatch is partnering with the Experiential Learning Office at St. Thomas University to offer a series of workshops to Indigenous and international students this fall.
This pilot program comes out of Planet Hatch’s Future of Work Skills program.
“For the Indigenous students the stream will have four training modules,” said Rachel Burke, Indigenous experiential and community-based learning coordinator at STU. “I’ve handpicked the modules for the Indigenous students based on the projects that we saw last year like Project AIR and the Mi’kmaq Alphabet Book.”
Burke was inspired by projects that took place last year. She thought lessons from professionals would make students feel more confident and comfortable when working on future projects.
Through this program, first- and second-year international students will get their first Canadian work experience through on-campus jobs and student services.
“It’s for skill development and to gain experience so that they can talk about their skills and be able to present themselves more confidently for their first opportunity in Canada within the safe space on campus,” said Burke.
It is part of Burke’s role to make all students feel comfortable entering the Fredericton and wider New Brunswick community. This could mean joining the workforce or developing their own community or on-campus or projects. The main thing is to provide students with support.
“Really just enhance their confidence in skills that they already have while giving them access to a community partner that could perhaps be a good networking tool for them in the future since Planet Hatch does a lot of work for young entrepreneurs,” said Burke.
When looking for a way to help students gain experience, Planet Hatch seemed like the perfect partner. STU and Planet Hatch have worked on things in the past.
“This collaboration is going to build on that history through a new program that Planet Hatch has been piloting over the past year,” said Planet Hatch Director Adam Peabody.
The Future of Work Skills Program is focused on helping students develop skills that are in greatest demand in and out of the workplace. Specific skills include building problem-solving, creativity, emotional intelligence and leadership.
“Not just learning the skills but applying them in a real-world setting in a way that delivers value and impact to our community,” said Peabody.
The Indigenous stream is open for 15 students for each workshop while the international stream will admit 10 students to the program. Interested students can find out more and apply through STU’s Learning in Action.
“We are really eager to work with St. Thomas University and these Indigenous and international students to not only support them but also learn from them,” said Peabody.
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Rachel Smith is an intern with Huddle. Send her story suggestions: [email protected].