By Kim Van Haren
Bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world skills is a vital part of the university experience. Through career development programs, students gain practical experience, enhance their professional skills and confidently step into a competitive workforce as graduates.
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) recognizes the advantages of student success and has joined forces with Wavemakers and Riipen Level UP, two federally-funded initiatives aimed at fostering personal and professional growth.
Skills for success
Cohort-based, Wavemakers is a four-week, virtual reality career development program available to domestic and international students. The program enables students to gain essential skills and establish direct connections with employers across Canada.
“The program is really good for foundational knowledge,” says Jamie Noakes, chairperson of the Career and Experiential Learning department at TRU. “So, if a student hasn’t done any type of career programming before, this is a great entry point.”
After enrolling in the program, students create an avatar and access a virtual reality campus where they can enter classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards.
Jamie Noakes, chairperson of the Career and Experiential Learning department at TRU
“Employer mentors are in the room, and they talk and engage with students across the country. It’s really interactive,” adds Noakes.
“Students work on real-world problem solving. It teaches career resiliency, networking and other much-needed skills for career development.”
According to Noakes, TRU students have shown great enthusiasm for the program since the university teamed up with Wavemakers in August of this year.
“We’ve had over 280 students in the first three cohorts of the year, so we’re excited and impressed with our students for doing it.
“Because of the interest, we designed some wraparound career programming as well, where we’re going to connect with all the students who go through these cohorts and then do a face-to-face debrief.”
Gaining experience
Open to domestic students, Riipen Level-UP matches students in relevant programs with local employers – including Tourism Kamloops, Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce and Venture Kamloops – for work experience. Students earn $1,400 for each 60-hour project they finish over a span of two to eight weeks. They can complete up to three projects, contingent upon employer approval.
“With Riipen, students build a network with employers where they may have a job or a co-op* offer afterwards,” says Noakes. “It gives students the extra level of experience they need. It’s the next step up. Both students and employers benefit from the experience.”
The program also enables students to explore various career paths and make informed decisions regarding their academic and professional futures.
“I’ve had students change their career trajectory because they tried a project, gained experience and then realized this wasn’t what they wanted to do,” says Noakes. “For example, we had a student who was set up on becoming a marketing expert. They were connected with an employer and working directly with the marketing team, but through these experiences, they changed their mind and decided they actually like project management way more.”
Building confidence
Emma Leach
Emma Leach, a fourth-year Bachelor of Tourism Management student, joined the Riipen program over the 2024 winter and summer semesters, working as a research assistant alongside Noakes in the Career and Experiential Learning department. Leach conducted interviews with 11 tourism employers in B.C. and Ontario to assess their interest in TRU’s tourism mentorship program and to gain deeper insights into their experiences with co-ops.
“Many employers were interested in the mentorship program and highlighted the benefits of co-ops both for students and employers, but they hadn’t previously engaged with TRU due to COVID,” she says.
“After the interviews, I transcribed my notes and looked for common themes,” says Leach. “I put together this really cool poster board and Jamie presented it in Sweden. I was thrilled.”
If you ask Leach, she can’t imagine not having participated in the Riipen program.
“This program helps build practical skills and confidence while providing networking opportunities and financial stability. It’s definitely something that has benefited me as a student and as a professional.”
After graduating, Leach plans to pursue a career in destination marketing. She may also return to Australia, a country she visited and fell in love with during the Study Abroad program at TRU.
* co-operative education program
