Create more co-op placements for students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business programs.

What success looks like

More co-op and work-integrated learning placements for students enrolled in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and business programs, to help students gain the necessary experience for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Government's narrative on progress

The government is creating more opportunities for co-op and work integrated learning for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and business programs through multiple initiatives. The $73 million Student Work Placement initiative will create up to 10,000 placements by 2021. Expanded federal support of $221 million for Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that builds partnerships between industry and educational institutions, will fund over 44,000 placements by 2021-22. To support Canada's National Cyber Security Strategy, Budget 2018 included $8.3 million in additional funding for the Student Work Placement initiative to support the creation of up to 1,000 student work placements in the cyber security sector. In the context of the G7, the government also recently announced an additional investment of $3 million over three years to support the creation of up to 500 new student work placements in the artificial intelligence field, including targeted support for students in underrepresented groups, including women in STEM. Together, these initiatives will create close to 60,000 placements over five years. In addition, the government is investing in the PromoScience program, which will support STEM learning activities for youth.

Note: this is the government's own description, not an independent assessment.