Monday, Jan. 11, 2021
KAMLOOPS, BC — With $37,500 from the RBC Future Launch Foundation, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is renewing a partnership with hands-on learning platform Riipen to provide students with experience that will benefit their careers.
The TRU-Riipen partnership, established in 2018, focuses on supporting hands-on learning across the university.
“Riipen is a disruptive innovation that is perfect for post-secondary experiential learning projects. The timing could not be better. My students are now working from home . . . and as such, they have limited access to in-class, employer-based projects. Riipen has provided me with the platform to give students an amazing experience, working with organizations on projects, without having to work face-to-face. The projects can be embedded as part of a course, or can be projects completed co-curricular,” says Larry Iles, senior faculty with TRU Career and Experiential Learning.
“This innovative platform allows me (as a university faculty member) to easily source relevant projects with organizations to my students. The Riipen team is responsive and innovative. They work as educational partners to provide the best experience for instructors and students.”
Making this partnership possible is RBC Future Launch Foundation, a 10-year commitment to preparing students for the future of work. TRU and Riipen partnered in 2018 to give students access to experiences that will help them transition into their careers. Thompson Rivers University is one of 30 academic institutions in Canada to access this funding.
“Riipen is excited to continue our partnership with Thompson Rivers University. Working with TRU faculty this past year has resulted in 400-plus student experiences and we look forward to continuing to support Thompson Rivers University as they deliver programs focused on student success,” says Dana Stephenson, Riipen founder and CEO.
Faculty members with questions about the Riipen platform can contact:
Larry Iles, senior faculty, Career and Experiential Learning,
liles@tru.ca
