Program

* Welcome by Evert-Jan van Donkelaar, Holland Innovative
* Kick-off cooperation Waterloo – Brainport by Johann Beelen, Brainport
* Hiring of talents and the co-op program of Waterloo University – Norah McRae and Shabnam (Shay) Ivkovic, PEng (ON), Waterloo University.

* Theme for the talk: EVERY REGION OF THE WORLD IS BATTLING TALENT SUPPLY and fit challenges impacting industries, whether that be a lack of good jobs or a good fit between graduates and jobs available. Also, the expectations of the newer generations of graduates are different from a decade ago. While not a silver bullet, work-integrated learning (WIL) and co-op have proven to be a competitive advantage that higher education and industry cannot ignore in alleviating some of these challenges. Deployed well, quality partnerships between HEIs and the industry provide an excellent pathway for organizations to gain access to young talent and build their talent pipeline. In creating appropriate WIL & co-op opportunities, degree programs can generate greater synergy between what employers want and the capabilities of graduates. Dr. McRae will share how the University of Waterloo delivers future-ready WIL and co-op programming.

* Questions, next steps, and wrap-up