Gearing Up

Overview

Announced in the 2016 federal budget, the Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program brings industry stakeholders together to create new work‑integrated learning (WIL) opportunities to better position students to secure employment in their field of study.

Gearing Up is the WIL Program for Canada’s mining sector. Led by MiHR, Gearing Up will create over 1250 new WIL opportunities in mining. Wage subsidies up to $7,500 are available to employers who create new WIL opportunities such as co‑ops, internships, field placements, applied projects, capstone projects or case competitions.

MiHR works with a National Consortium made up of mining employers, service providers, industry associations and post-secondary institutions to implement program activities and inform how industry and education can work together more collaboratively through work-integrated learning.

Gearing Up changes the way students in mining-related post-secondary education programs perceive, pursue and acquire the skills needed for in-demand mining careers. Contact gearingup@mihr.ca for more information.

Gearing Up WIL Opportunities in High Demand

We would like to thank all of the companies who have enthusiastically participated in the Gearing Up program. The program has reached the maximum number of placements for the Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 terms. We are actively following up with employers to confirm placement numbers and obtain required documentation.  We encourage other interested companies to fill out the following online application form to be put on a waitlist should any additional funding become available. Applications are currently being accepted for Summer placements, beginning in April 2021.

Case Studies

The following studies showcase examples of how Gearing Up was adopted, what WIL placements are like, and the benefits to the companies, post-secondary institutions and students involved.